Lawmaker hits inaction on Bayanihan 3 bill

Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate. INQUIRER.net file photo / Noy Morcoso

MANILA, Philippines — The Duterte administration is spending P118 billion for an arms deal with the United States while “sleeping” on the P401-billion COVID-19 interventions under the Bayanihan 3 bill.

A Makabayan lawmaker reiterated his call for President Rodrigo Duterte to set his “skewed priority” straight and call for a special session of Congress to pass the Bayanihan to Arise As One bill.

In a statement, House Deputy Minority Leader and Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Isagani Zarate slammed the government for “sleeping on the much-needed Bayanihan 3 aid measure, but at the same time spending billions of pesos on weapons and other war material.”

He was referring to the Philippines’ looming arms deal with the United States, with P118 billion worth of military equipment and fighter jets to be sold to the country.

“It seems that instead of saving lives and alleviating the plight of our people gravely hit by this crisis aggravated by the pandemic, the skewed priority of the Duterte administration is to feed or heal our people with more weapons of death,” Zarate said.

He added that while the Duterte administration is ready to fork over P118 billion for military and defense equipment, “it continues to turn a deaf ear on the funding needs for the Bayanihan 3.”

The House of Representatives passed on third and final reading House Bill No. 9411, or the Bayanihan 3 bill, before it adjourned on June 5.

This is amid questions on how to fund the P401-billion package, which features a P216-billion aid package or P2,000 cash aid for all Filipinos.