Alan Cayetano hopes gov't will include pandemic ‘ayuda’ in 2023 budget

Senator Alan Peter Cayetano expressed hopes the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will not completely shun the inclusion of COVID-19 cash aid in the 2023 budget.

"I hope that open ang administration marinig mula sa kababayan kung gaano kabigat ang buhay ngayon at bakit kailangan ang ayuda,” he said in a media briefing Tuesday.

Cayetano earlier filed a bill seeking to give needy families a one-time aid of P10,000 or P1,500 per member, whichever sum is higher.

Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno earlier said the cash assistance should be discontinued, saying it is a waste of public funds.

Diokno had said the government should prioritize the implementation of existing social protection programs over another round of COVID-19 social amelioration subsidies “which has hardly any urgent basis given the continuous recovery of the economy and the full restoration of public mobility”.

“Public finances are finite. They have to be allocated judiciously for programs and projects that would result in the greatest benefit for the greatest number of citizens and the overall welfare,” he added.

Cayetano said the assistance is crucial as the pandemic still lingers and amid rising prices of basic commodities.

“If it is really so bad, then how come the US and other countries have been doing this a form of both social protection and as a form of makabangon ang ating mga kababayan?” he said.

“I will agree with him na better ang livelihood. I'm willing to sit down and work with the government kung ibibigay ay whether P10,000 ‘yan o mas malaki at ang ibibigay ay trabaho o negosyo bakit hindi? Ang tao di humihingi ng libre. Di natin pinag-uusapan na ipamigay lang pera ng government, ang pinag-uusapan indibidwal na sitwasyon ng bawat pamilya,” he added.

The Department of Budget and Management last week submitted to the House of Representatives the proposed 2023 national budget.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said the House is eyeing to approve the proposed P5.268 trillion budget on third and final reading on or before October 1.

Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri said he sees a quick deliberation on the 2023 General Appropriations Bill (GAB) while Senate Finance Committee chairperson Sonny Angara said they are eyeing the start of the budget briefings on September 12.

Based on the proposed budget for next year, there are double-digit increases in the Philippines’ allocation to education, infrastructure, health, social protection, and agriculture.—LDF, GMA News