Faisal Mangondato urges legislators to donate a month's salary to the poor

Businessman and presidential candidate Faisal Mangondato called on legislators to donate a month's salary to poor Filipinos amid the spike in fuel prices in the country.

“’Yung malaking sweldo sa ating gobyerno tulad sa Congress na sumusweldo nang milyon-milyon, bakit hindi po sila magbigay ng donation maski isang month ng kanilang sweldo dahil wala naman silang session,” Mangodato said at Go Negoyo’s “KandidaTalks”

“Sila ngayon ay nasa kampaya. Ibigay nila yung isang month ng sweldo sa nagugutom na kababayan sa bansa,” he said.

(For those who have millions-worth of salaries like Congressmen, why don't they donate month's wage while sessions are on recess?

They are now campaigning. They should give away one month of their salary to hungry Filipinos.)

As to what the government needed to prioritize to assist Filipinos who are reeling from the negative impact of the high fuel prices, Mangondato said that instead of giving subsidies to the marginalized, the funds to be used should be allocated to programs that would promote “production” and not “consumption.”

This includes the construction of solar-powered panels for homes of poor families and giving them livestock to tend, he added.

“’Yung P2.5 billion na ibibigay sa subsidy dapat ilaan din natin sa magagandang programa nang sa gayon hindi lang pera ang makuha ng ating mga kababayan,” explained Mangondato.

(“The P2.5 billion to be distributed as subsidies should be allocated to programs so our fellow Filipinos will not only receive cash.”)

“Katulad nang binigay ng kasalukuyang administrasyon ngayon, 1 week wala na yung pera…Kung hindi mahihinto ang nangyayari ngayon, san tayo kukuha nang ipamimigay na namn na subsidy?” he said.

(“Like the money the present administration will disburse… in one week that will be gone. What if the [Ukraine-Russia] conflict will not be resolved any time soon? Where will the government get another tranche of subsidy?)

“Kaya sa akin, gusto ko may production ang mga ibibigay na subsidy sa ating mga kababayan nang sa ganoon mayroon silang kabuhayan. Maski di na makulangan ang gobyerno ay maitatawid nila ang buhay,” he added.

(“That’s why for me, I prefer it if we will give subsidies for production so that they will have their livelihood. Even if the government will end up strapped for funds, they will have a way to live.”)

The national government is set to distribute a P500 monthly cash subsidy for low-income families for an entire year to help them cope with the rising costs of fuel and other basic commodities.

Fuel subsidies were also o be given to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators including jeepney drivers, tricycle drivers, and ride-hailing and delivery services. — DVM, GMA News