Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo delivers a privilege speech on Monday, November 16, 2020, at the House of Representatives. (File) Photo from the House of Representatives
MANILA, Philippines – Marikina City 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo on Wednesday urged the National Economic Development Authority (Neda) to study and consider the proposed Bayanihan 3 law as the Philippines’ unemployment rate reached a 16-year high due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to Quimbo, the Neda does not support the proposed law.
“Nakakalungkot na hindi suportado ng Neda, ang ating pambansang economic planner, ang panukalang Bayanihan 3,” the lawmaker lamented during the House minority bloc press conference.
(It is saddening that Neda, our national economic planner, does not support the proposed Bayanihan 3.)
“Tila palusot ang mga dahilan nila kahapon sa TWG (technical working group) meeting ng Committee on Economic Affairs,” she added. “Una, hindi daw na take up ng Ledac (Legislative-Executive Development Advisory Council) ang panukala kaya’t hindi ito priority. Pangalawa, meron na naman daw Bayanihan 2, 2020 GAA, at 2021 GAA (General Appropriations), pati CREATE law na sapat na para muling buhayin ang naghihinalong ekonomiya,” Quimbo said.
(It’s as what they raised during the TWG meeting of the Committee on Economic Affairs were all excuses. First, they cited that the Ledac hasn’t discussed that’s why it’s not a priority. Second, there is already a Bayanihan 2, 2020 GAA, 2021 GAA and CREATE law that is already sufficient to support a suffering economy.)
Quimbo later urged Neda to study and consider the proposed Bayanihan 3 law.
“Nanawagan ako sa Neda na pag-aralan pa sana nila ang magiging epekto sa kahirapan ng pamilyang Pilipino kung ipagpapaliban ang Bayanihan 3.”
(I am appealing to Neda to study what will the consequences be should the Bayanihan 3 will be bypassed.)
The proposed Bayanihan 3, or the Bayanihan to Arise As One Act—filed by Quimbo and House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco— seeks for a P420 blllion allocation to help revive the Philippine economy.
Despite the gradual reopening of the economy, the Philippine Statistics Authority’s (PSA) labor force survey (LFS) showed that the country’s unemployment rate worsened to 8.7 percent compared to 5.3 percent a year ago.
This means that for January 2021, the actual number of Filipinos who were jobless rose to four million from 2.4 million recorded in January 2020.