Helping the poor for their economic upliftment is the priority of the 19th Congress under the leadership of House Speaker Martin Romualdez.
This was emphasized by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co, House Appropriations Committee chairman, in a recent interview.
“Pagbukas pa lang ng 19th Congress last July, sinabi na sa akin ni Speaker Romualdez na tutukan ang pag ahon ng mga mahihirap na kababayan dahil ito nga din ang gusto ng Marcos administration,” Co said.
“For this reason, ilang bilyon ang ipinalaan ni Speaker Romualdez sa 2023 national budget para sa social services ng Department of Social Welfare and Development [DSWD], Department of Labor and Employment [DOLE], at Department of Health [DOH],” the lawmaker said.
Although Co did not provide amounts on how much funds they allocated to DSWD for Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) by DOLE, and Medical Assistance to Indigent Patients (MAIP) by DOH, it is said to be in billions of pesos which, he said, may be enough to help poor Filipinos.
The chairman of the House Appropriations Committee explained that lawmakers are aware of the hardships of most Filipinos amid the lingering effects of the pandemic.
“Kung walang trabaho, nariyan ang TUPAD ng DOLE. Kung kailangan ng makakain o gamot o pamasahe ng tao, pwede silang lumapit sa DSWD,” the lawmaker said.
He added, “Wala na rin silang poproblemahin sa paospital dahil pwede silang humingi ng pambayad sa DOH, sa pamamagitan ng MAIP [medical assistance for indigent patients].”
“Speaker Romualdez wants this Congress to focus on the needs of our poor. Yung bang may malalapitan sila sa oras ng kanilang pangangailangan at mabibigyan talaga sila ng sapat na tulong ng gobyerno,” he concluded.