House’s Defeat COVID-19 Committee holds TWG meeting on economic stimulus package

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ Defeat COVID-19 Committee (DCC), particularly its economic stimulus cluster, commenced on Tuesday afternoon its first technical working group (TWG) meeting to tackle the proposed economic stimulus package amid the coronavirus pandemic.

During the virtual meeting, attendees are expected to have an initial discussion on the proposed Economic Stimulus-Response Package, prepared by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda, AAMBIS-OWA Partylist Rep. Sharon Garin, and Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo.

Salceda serves as the chairperson of the House’s committee on ways and means while Garin serves as the chairperson of the committee on economic affairs.

In his opening remarks, Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez, who serves as co-chairperson of the DCC, lamented how there are still many issues that needed to be addressed during the pandemic.

This includes the effect of the pandemic on the country’s economy including businesses, enterprises, and employment.

“If we do not act now, small businessmen fear that they may have to close shop after the lockdown. Employees and laborers are worried sick if they still have regular jobs to return to,” Romualdez said.

“Takot din ang mga manggagawa sa informal sector dahil tiyak na wala silang kikitain kung bagsak ang ekonomiya (Many workers in the informal sector are afraid because they will not earn anything if the economy collapses),” he added.

The proposed package, Romualdez said, “will ensure business continuity and job employment in the days to come.”

“Malinaw naman po ang misyon nating lahat sa panahon ng COVID-19. Siguruhing bukas ang mga tindahan at negosyo. May trabahong naghihintay sa mga manggagawa. May kikitain ang mga gustong magbanat ng buto. May pagkain sa bawat mesa,” the majority leader said.

(Our mission is clear during the time of COVID-19. Ensure that stores and businesses are open. There will be jobs awaiting our workers. Those who want to work will earn. And food will be served on every table.)

“Lahat ng ito, habang pinipigilan natin ang pagkalat ng COVID-19 sa ating bansa (All these, while ensuring that we prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country),” Romualdez added.

Likewise, Romualdez underscored the need to address issues in the implementation of the national government’s social amelioration program, which seeks to provide assistance to low-income households affected by the pandemic.

“We have to cast a wider net so that more families will benefit from other social programs that we need to implement,” Romualdez said.

“Kailangan po lahat makikinabang sa mga programang ito. Lahat ng kailangan ng ayuda, dapat mabigyan ng pansin ng pamahalaan. Wala tayong pipiliin. May biyaya para sa lahat,” he added.

(Everyone should benefit from these programs. Everyone who needs assistance should be taken notice by the government. We would not choose anyone. There should be benefits for everybody.)

Romualdez earlier said that the DCC shall focus on “all matters directly and principally relating to the appropriate government response on the novel coronavirus and how to curb is effect on the economy and the general public especially the labor force.”