Speaker Lord Allan Velasco has disclosed that the country’s economic managers are now studying potential funding sources for Bayanihan 3, a proposal seen as a “lifeline” amid the raging pandemic that continues to cripple the economy and hurt the livelihood of millions of Filipinos.
According to Velasco, Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III
and Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado told him in a virtual meeting last April 8
that the Department of Finance and the Department of Budget and Management are
now in the process of identifying sources of funds in order to move forward
Bayanihan 3, which is meant to hasten the country’s economic recovery from the
ravage of the health crisis.
“I am very thankful to Secretary Dominguez and Secretary
Avisado for recognizing the importance of Bayanihan 3 in addressing financial
gaps to better manage the government’s response to the impact of the pandemic,”
Velasco told leaders of key political parties and party-list groups in the
House of Representatives during a virtual meeting held on Monday.
“Our economic managers see Bayanihan 3 as a lifeline for
many Filipinos facing economic hardship during this crisis, and I’m very glad
that we are aligned on this,” the Speaker added.
Velasco and Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Luz
Quimbo, a noted economist, earlier filed their own version of Bayanihan 3 under
House Bill 8628 or the “Bayanihan to Arise As One Act,” which proposes a
P420-billion fund to stimulate the nation’s economic recovery from the COVID-19
crisis.
The measure seeks to allocate P108 billion for additional
social amelioration to impacted households, P100 billion for capacity-building
for impacted sectors, P52 billion for wage subsidies, P70 billion for
capacity-building for agricultural producers, P30 billion for internet
allowances to students and teachers, P30 billion for assistance to displaced
workers, P25 billion for COVID-19 treatment and vaccines, and P5 billion for
the rehabilitation of areas impacted by recent floods and typhoons.
Under the measure, each household member will receive P1,000
regardless of their economic status. On top of this, a P1,000 allowance will be
provided to each student and teacher, and P8,000 for every displaced worker.
HB 8628 is pending with the House Committee on Economic
Affairs, which created a technical working group to consolidate all Bayanihan
3-related measures.
Velasco said he expects that the Bayanihan 3 will be
approved by the committee before the House resumes session on May 17.
“We are extremely hopeful for the passage of Bayanihan 3,
which is a much-bigger, well-targeted and proportionate stimulus package that would
help struggling Filipinos and revive our pandemic-ravaged economy,” Velasco
said.
“A third round of fiscal support is in order to relieve the
economic struggle experienced by many Filipinos, particularly those with low
incomes, and help businesses stay afloat during the pandemic,” he added.
To date, 224 members from the supermajority, minority and
independent blocs in the House have signed either as principal authors or
co-authors of Velasco’s Bayanihan 3 bill. - House of Representatives of the Philippines
