CONGRESS will focus on bringing relief assistance to the middle class by setting aside funds for workers in micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and members of the Social Security System (SSS), Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano said on Monday.
As he denied that the middle class was left behind in the government’s COVID-19 responses, Cayetano said the economic stimulus cluster of the House of Representative’s Defeat COVID-19 ad hoc committee, which he leads, will formally discuss the matter today (Tuesday) via teleconferencing.
Cayetano said the House leadership has discussed proposals to provide relief assistance to the middle class with Cabinet officials who he said are now preparing a “big amount” for another financial package.
“We had a Zoom (app) meeting with Sen. (Christopher) Bong Go, ES (Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea), (Budget) Secretary (Wendel) Avisado and (Finance) Secretary Sonny (Dominguez). They’re preparing quite a big amount with twin targets: micro small-medium enterprises and SSS members directly,” he told reporters.
The Speaker along with Go, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, and National Task Force COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. made the announcement following an inspection of a COVID-19 quarantine facility at the Rizal Memorial Stadium.
Cayetano said Reps. Joey Salceda of Albay, chair of the House committee on ways and means, Sharon Garin of AAMBIS-OWA party-list, and Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo will present their respective proposals in today’s meeting.
Cayetano said that while government’s efforts are still not enough in responding to the pandemic, the middle class has not been disregarded because measures were put in place to help them, such as the extension of payment of bills and filing of taxes, among others.
“Bear with us, don’t let go. The important thing is the enhanced community quarantine is working,” he said.
Deputy speaker Luis Raymond Villafuerte appealed to local chief executives to strictly follow the President’s order to ensure the unhampered entry and passage of all cargo carrying essential goods to ensure the steady supply of basic commodities in communities covered by the extended Luzon-wide Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).
Villafuerte, a former governor, reminded chief executives of local government units (LGUs) that they cannot arbitrarily implement their own rules on checkpoints and that only the PNP can inspect cargoes passing through their respective boundaries.
“Let us avoid an artificial food shortage. The government has assured us of enough food and adequate supply of other basic items even with an ECQ in place. But some of our LGUs are becoming the cause of the delay of the arrival of these essential goods because the rules they have set up in their checkpoints are apparently not aligned with the President’s instructions,” Villafuerte said.
“Our LGUs should be part of the solution, not part of the problem,” said Villafuerte, a member of the Joint Congressional Oversight Committee that monitors the implementation of Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
Villafuerte said that over the past weeks, various groups — among them the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food Inc. (PCAFI), Philippine Association of Meat Processors Inc. (PAMPI) Broilers Raisers Association (UBRA) and the Philippine Seed Industry Association (PSIA) — have complained of transport problems.
