Bong Go supports proposed Bayanihan 3 but fund sources need to be identified; lauds ongoing roll-out of Supplemental Amelioration Program in NCR Plus

In a radio interview on Wednesday, April 7, Senator Christopher "Bong" Go expressed support for the proposed Bayanihan 3 bill to further assist Filipinos still struggling because of the pandemic, provided sources of funds are identified. He also revealed that government finance managers are presently trying to identify potential sources of funds.

"Ako po ay sang-ayon d'yan kung may pondo po. Kaya kaninang umaga, nagpulong kami ni Secretary Dominguez at kinausap ko po siya. Si Secretary Avisado din po, nakausap ko po siya, pati si Secretary Medialdea, kung may pondo ba. Sa ngayon po ay binabalanse pa muna nila lahat. Ayaw nila mangako na makapagrekomenda sila sa Pangulo na magpatawag ng special session dahil, unang una, dapat munang ma-identify kung may pondo tayong pagkukuhaan bago tayo," he said.

"Ako, bilang isang Senador, anytime po ako 24 hours po ako magta-trabaho, ipatawag n'yo ako. Kailangan ninyo magbotohan diyan para maipasa 'yan. Willing po ako na mag-attend (physically) at tumulong. Ngayon, ang tanong kung may pondo. Binabalanse po ng finance managers kung may pondo ba dahil hindi natin alam until when ba itong surge na ito. 'Yung pagtaas po ng kaso (ng COVID-19)," the Senator, who also sits as the chair of the Senate Committee on Health, added.

The Finance Department is presently studying the proposal given that the projected budget deficit for 2021 corresponds to 8.9% of the country's gross domestic product, compared to 7.5% last year.

"Ako naman po, kung makakatulong, lalung lalo na po sa mahihirap nating kababayan ay unahin natin po sila. Kahit mamaya na po ang ibang programs ng gobyerno. Importante po ngayon, tiyan po, sikmura po ng bawat Pilipino ang importante," Go explained.

Meanwhile, the Senator lauded the ongoing distribution of the Supplemental Amelioration Program in some areas in Metro Manila. Last March 23, Go appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to grant the said amelioration program to assist at least 80% of the population, considered as low-income, of the National Capital Region and Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, also known as the NCR Plus.

The interviewer shared how a certain Nanay Violeta Babon of Taguig City was so grateful for the assistance received. "Naiyak sa saya, naiyak sa saya noong natanggap niya 'yung kaniyang ayuda. Kasi, ramdam talaga, Senator Bong Go, 'yung hirap ng buhay ng ating mga kababayan ngayon extended po 'yung ECQ at marami pa sa mga kababayan natin ang umaasa po dito sa tulong na ito galing sa gobyerno," the reporter of DZRH described.

"'Yung isa nga na Grab driver, ipambibili daw niya ng gatas para sa kanyang anak. Talagang nakalaan na, alam na nila at nai-prioritize na nila kung saan gagamitin ang ayuda," she added.

Distribution of assistance already started with some beneficiaries in Manila City, Parañaque City and Caloocan City already receiving the financial assistance. On Thursday, April 8, more distribution activities are slated to be conducted in Valenzuela, Mandaluyong and Manila cities.

Go also briefly discussed the period for the filing of income tax returns with the Bureau of Internal Revenue. Taxpayers may file from April 15 until May 15 without incurring penalty. "Ang problema po ngayon, eh, papaano po kung wala kang income, eh, di wala kang pambayad. Marami pong nawalan ng trabaho, at kapag nawalan ka ng trabaho, wala kang income. Ang problema kapag wala ka makolekta, walang panggastos ang gobyerno," he lamented.

"Kaya binabalanse po ng gobyerno ang lahat. Napakahirap po ng buhay po ngayon. Hindi lang ang mga kababayan natin, pati ang mga nasa gobyerno ay nahihirapan sila mag-desisyon," he finally added.