BY RAYMUND ANTONIO
Vice President Leni Robredo on Sunday welcomed the newly signed Bayanihan to Recover as One law, but she said it is not enough to address the problems brought by the coronavirus pandemic.
Robredo, a leader of the opposition, was referring to the P165.5-billion fund allocated under the Bayanihan 2 measure that seeks to cushion the impact of COVID-19.
“Ang point natin kulang ‘yung ginagastos natin considering na grabe iyong pangangailangan,” she said on her Sunday radio show.
The vice president noted the amount is comparatively small to the budget being spent by other countries for their COVID-19 operations.
Duterte signed Bayanihan 2 law that provides for a stimulus package of P140 billion in regular appropriation and the remaining P25.5 billion as standby funds.
This would finance several government programs such as improvement of health care resources, cash-for-work program, agriculture support, assistance to COVID-19-hit industries, and procurement of coronavirus vaccines.
Bayanihan 2 also extends the special powers previously granted by Congress to Duterte to response to the COVID-19 until December.
Robredo said the government must spend more and spend efficiently, with utmost sense of urgency.
“Habang sinasabi natin na gumastos pa para mas maraming tao ang matulungan, sana gumastos ng tama (While I say they have to spend more to help many people, I hope they would spend the funds correctly),” she said.
“Bilis-bilisan ang paggawa kasi wala tayong luxury ng panahon at oras (They have to work faster because we don’t have the luxury of time),” she added. (Raymund Antonio)
