Palace backs new ‘ayuda’ proposed by Go

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte has tasked his finance managers and concerned agencies to study a possible “ayuda” or additional financial assistance to poor Filipinos through an expanded social amelioration program, Sen. Bong Go said the other day.

In a radio interview, Go cited how the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)’s report on 3.2 million Filipinos (or 23 percent of the population) in Metro Manila experiencing hunger has troubled the President.

Go said the President  instructed Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III and Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado to look for and study carefully how to get funds for the ayuda.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. confirmed this during a virtual presser, saying that Malacañang supports Go’s proposal to provide more assistance to poor Filipinos amid the spike in COVID-19 cases.

The senator and close ally of the President emphasized that addressing hunger, unemployment and poverty among Filipinos is a priority concern for the government.

During President Duterte’s Talk to the People address last Wednesday, NEDA reported that 3.2 million people in the National Capital Region experienced hunger due to the economic impact of the pandemic on their lives and livelihoods.

NEDA also revealed that there are 506,000 individuals presently jobless in the NCR. The economic restrictions are also reported to cost people in the NCR and adjacent provinces a loss totaling to P700 million in wages per day.

In the interview, Go enjoined concerned officials to work together to find the funds needed to further help Filipinos, especially those whose lives and livelihoods are adversely affected by tighter restrictions which were re-imposed to stop the spread of COVID-19.

“Actually, I already spoke to Secretary Dominguez last week. I told him that our countrymen are going through difficulties and many of them are going hungry based on the NEDA study,” he said.

He emphasized the need for cooperation among government agencies in aiding Filipino families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic not just in Metro Manila, but throughout the country.

Go also asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to prevent issues on conflicting lists of beneficiaries and improve the distribution system for the government’s various assistance programs.

“I told the DSWD to make sure of the numbers this time,” he said in Filipino as he recalled complaints that a number of qualified beneficiaries were unable to claim the benefit last year. “I’m sure right now, they already have a list, data, numbers – the correct count of those who deserve to be given (assistance).”

Meanwhile, Go continues to remind the public to continue cooperating with authorities, remain vigilant and strictly follow health protocols to prevent the further spread of the virus.

“I’m appealing to all our countrymen. Let’s not be lax. Follow health protocols – social distancing, mask, face shield, (and) wash hands. If there’s no necessity, don’t leave the house,” he said.