Senator disagrees with proposal to discontinue provision of COVID-related financial aid

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go stressed his disagreement over the proposal to stop providing financial aid to those affected by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Go, who is the Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, said that struggling Filipinos continue to need support from the government as long as COVID-19 lingers.

“I totally disagree na ihinto ng gobyerno ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa mga apektado ng pandemya. Hanggang nandiyan pa ang COVID-19, delikado pa ang buhay ng ating mga kababayan, apektado pa rin ang kabuhayan ng bawat Pilipino,” said Go in a statement on Wednesday, August 31.

He urged the government to prioritize providing assistance to impoverished Filipinos and ensure that they do not suffer from hunger amid the public health emergency.

“Unahin natin ang mga mahihirap. Una sa lahat, prayoridad natin ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa kanila. Siguraduhin nating walang magugutom,” urged Go.

In a recent press briefing, Department of Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno pointed out that given the country’s constrained fiscal capacity, COVID-related financial support should be discontinued.

Diokno stressed that there is no longer a need to provide additional assistance to low-income Filipino households because the country has “fully recovered”.

Go argued, however, that as long as funds can be sourced, providing assistance to Filipinos during this time must be prioritized.

“Basta may pagkukuhanang pondo, prayoridad natin dapat na magbigay ng ayuda sa nangangailangan,” remarked Go.

“Mandato ‘yan ng buong gobyerno, kasama na ang Kongreso, na siguruhing merong sapat na pag-alalay, pagtulong at pagmamalasakit sa mga mamamayan hanggang tuluyang makabangon ang lahat,” he added.

If there are alleged leakages in the provision of aid, Go urged the government to plug the leaks instead of stopping the provision of aid.

“If there are alleged leakages in the provision of aid, then plug the leaks instead of turning it off especially at a time when there are still people who have nowhere else to go but to seek help from the government especially the hopeless and the helpless,” Go stressed.

“Until we have fully recovered as one nation, we should ensure that no Filipino is left behind,” urged the senator.