House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Tuesday assured the public that Bayanihan II will institute mechanisms to improve the social amelioration package (SAP), particularly the distribution of the assistance.
“Congress will be exercising its oversight functions to ensure that the mistakes of the past will not be repeated,” Cayetano said in statement.
“We want also to ensure that SAP will be given to all Filipinos who need it most. We respect and acknowledge the tremendous work done by the departments involved, but our citizens cannot afford to wait that long. There must be a better way, and together we will find it,” he added.
Cayetano said he is optimistic that the second Bayanihan to Heal as One law will be “better and more responsive,” noting that the proposed measure will improve on what has been achieved so far.
Congress enacted the Bayanihan One to Heal As One Act, which is set to expire on June 25. The House has yet to pass its version of the Bayanihan II while the Senate passed its version before session adjourned sine die last June 5.
Cayetano reaffirmed the commitment of Congress to find solutions to prepare for challenges that the Filipinos will face as it prepares for the new normal.
He said that while the government response to the unprecedented crisis has been nothing short of extraordinary, there is still room for improvement.
“Now we must take the hard lessons we have learned the past months and apply it in the testing, tracing, and treatment of patients in order to escape the threat of a more devastating second wave,” Cayetano said.
The administration’s Balik-Probinsya Program that is aimed at decongesting Metro Manila, will receive a big boost once the the CURES (COVID- 19 Unemployment Reduction Economic Stimulus Act of 2020) bill has been enacted, a legislator said on Tuesday.
Deputy Speaker Luis Raymund Villafuerte said enactment of the House-passed bill providing for a three-year, P1.5-trillion stimulus program anchored on infrastructure spending mainly in rural communities, will let the government effectively implement the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) program and provide quick employment to those left jobless as a result of the long quarantine imposed since March in Luzon and other parts of the country.
Villafuerte, representative of Camarines Sur’s Second District said the measure focuses on “shovel-ready, easy-to-implement infrastructure projects” on health, education, agriculture, local roads, livelihood, information and communication technology and tourism infrastructure.
Senator Christopher Go, meanwhile, reminded the BP2 Council to immediately assess and validate applicants who wish to avail of the program.
He also told them to ensure that health protocols are followed as well as proper coordination with receiving local government units are conducted in the upcoming roll out of the next batches of the BP2 program.
On Thursday, BP2 Council Executive Director and National Housing Authority General Manager Marcelino Escalada Jr. said the second batch of beneficiaries would begin departing starting June 11.
In a virtual public briefing, Escalada said there is ongoing coordination between the council and concerned local government units to ensure the safe transfer of people.
The BP2 program, proposed by Go and now institutionalized by Executive Order 114 signed by President Rodrigo Duterte, aims to decongest Metro Manila by relocating residents, particularly squatter families, to the provinces where they can be provided better assistance and livelihood opportunities amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
As of June 2020, the program has over 80,000 applications, mainly comprised of individuals traveling alone and families.
Go further reminded implementers that qualified beneficiaries must undergo stringent testing protocols prior to their departure.
“This plan will only be successful if we always follow health protocols to ensure the people’s safe travel and protection from the virus,” he said.