P140-B sa Bayanihan 2 Act, tiyaking mapupunta sa Filipino–Bong Go

PINURI ni Senator Christopher “Bong” Go ang pagratipika ng Bicameral Conference Committee Report sa “Bayanihan to Recover as One Act” at ipinatitiyak sa pamahalaan na mapupunta ang inilaang  P140 bilyong pondo sa mga programa para maibangon ang bansa.

Bukod sa nabanggit na pondo, may P25 billion pa na magsisilbing standby appropriations para sa iba pang programa.

“I would like to express my congratulations and gratitude to the conferees of both Houses of Congress for coming together in support of this measure. Mr. President, I thank the Honorable sponsor and chairman of the Committee on Finance, Sen. Sonny Angara, for taking charge of this difficult but crucial task,” ani Go.

“Let me also thank the other members of the Bicameral Conference Committee – Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, our Majority leader Sen. Migz Zubiri, our Minority leader Sen. Franklin Drilon, Sen. Pia Cayetano, Sen. Imee Marcos, Sen. Grace Poe, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and, on the part of the House, Cong. LRay Villafuerte, Cong. Stella Quimbo, Cong. Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, Cong. Eric Yap, Cong, Ranie Abu, Cong. Junie Cua, Cong. Teodorico Haresco, Cong. Wilter Palma, and Cong. Sharon Garin,” dagdag niya.

Sa kanyang talumpati sa Senate session, sinabi ni Go na siyang chairman ng Senate committee on health and demography, idiniin niya ang probisyon na magbibigay ng benepisyo, kapwa sa public at private healthcare workers, na nahawahan ng COVID-19 o namatay sa virus sa gitna ng kanilang pagtatrabaho.

Pinuri rin ng senador ang probisyon na magdaragdag ng benepisyo sa healthcare workers, na hiniling ng Pangulo, gaya ng one-time COVID-19 special risk allowance, life insurance, accommodation, transportation at meals.

“Equally important is the support provided by the body for the procurement of PPEs, the construction and expansion of our isolation and quarantine facilities, the hiring of additional contact tracers, the maintenance of isolation facilities, including the billing of the hotels used as quarantine areas, and the food and transportation of our COVID-19 patients,” sabi ni Go.

Pinasalamatan din ni Go ang ibibigay na ayuda sa mga Filipino migrant workers na nawalan ng trabaho sa ibayong dagat kaya napilitang umuwi sa bansa, gayundin sa mga atletang Filipino.

“Finally, I want to thank the Bicameral Committee for recognizing the need to support the repatriation of overseas Filipinos through the [Department of Foreign Affairs], and for acknowledging the importance of our national athletes and coaches whose allowances were reduced due to the pandemic. Our OFWs, athletes, and coaches are some of our modern-day heroes who bring great pride and joy to our country,” sabi ng senador.

Kaya naman ipinaalala niya sa implementing agencies na siguruhin na ang financial assistance ay makararating at mararamdaman ng mga nangangailangan at tunay na apektado ng pandemya.

Idiniin niya ang naging direktiba ni Pangulong Duterte na walang masasayang na sentimo sa nasabing pondo.

“Uulitin ko po ang lagi kong pinapaalala sa ating mga executive agencies: Siguraduhin natin na magagamit ang pera ng bayan ng tama, siguraduhin natin na makakarating ang tulong sa pinakanangangailangan at pinakaapektado nating mga kababayan. At siguraduhin natin na walang pinipiling oras ang ating pagtulong at pagserbisyo sa bayan,” ani Go.

“I would like to confirm, gusto ng Presidente na transparent ang Executive and lahat ay accounted saan nagastos ang pera ng gobyerno.” (PFT Team)