Progressive lawmakers slam P1K aid in NCR Plus residents

Progressive solons lambasted Wednesday the P1,000 worth of aid that would be given to low-income residents who are affected by the enhanced community quarantine in NCR Plus areas.

Representatives France Castro, Eufemia Cullamat, and Arlene Brosas said the amount would not be enough for an individual to survive in a week of lockdown.

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“P1,000 kada indibidwal daw sa 22.9 na million na populasyon ng NCR Plus bubble. Saan makakarating ang P1,000 na ito at maximum daw na P4,000 kada pamilya? Parang napakaliit nito kaugnay doon sa kahilingan ng manggagawa…
Mumo ang ibinigay samantalang palala nang palala ang COVID-19,” Castro said.

(P1,000 each will be given to more or less 22.9 million low-income individuals in the NCR Plus. How long can P1,000 last? A maximum of P4,000 will be given per family but this is not enough. It seems that it is too small for the workers, especially now that the COVID-19 pandemic is worsening.)

Meanwhile, Cullamat said Filipinos would not die of COVID-19 but of starvation due to the national government’s lack of support.

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Progressive lawmakers slam P1K aid in NCR Plus residents

“Mamamatay sila sa gutom dahil wala ngang tunay na ayuda. Ang bilyon-bilyong inutang ay di mapupunta sa taong-bayan,” Cullamat said.

(Filipinos will die of hunger because there is no assistance from the government. The billions of loans did not benefit citizens.)

Brosas also agreed to the sentiments of her two fellow progressive lawmakers.

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“Sinasabi na walang ayuda kasi saan nga naman aabot ang P1,000? Kahit sino sigurong tao kapag sinabing P1,000 lang tapos malalockdown ka ng matagal eh hindi naman talaga ‘yun makakasapat. Grabe talaga ‘yung dinaras ng mamamayan… alam naman natin maraming nawalan ng trabaho,” Brosas said.

(They are saying that there is no aid because how long can a P1,000 last? An individual who will be affected by a lockdown will really say that the amount is not enough. Filipinos have been suffering, we know a lot of citizens lost their jobs amid the pandemic.)

Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado has said a total of 22.9 million low-income individuals in NCR Plus areas will receive P1,000 in kind.