Jojo Binay urges gov’t to give more aid to pandemic-hit citizens and boost spending

FILE PHOTO: Former Vice President Jejomar C. Binay. INQUIRER FILES

MANILA, Philippines — Former vice president Jejomar “Jojo” Binay on Thursday called on the national government to provide more assistance to people affected by the COVID-19 pandemic “to encourage people to begin spending again.”

The senatorial aspirant proposed a “sustained program” to increase the spending power of those severely affected by the pandemic such as poor families, the elderly, and other vulnerable sectors.

The program, he said, can be done through cash aid, food subsidies, free medical care including medicines, interest-free loans, income tax breaks, and other forms of government assistance to ease the people’s burdens until they recover and the economy rebounds.

“Government needs to inspire confidence in the economy. It needs to encourage people to begin spending again,” Binay said in a statement.

“That could take some time, especially when you have over three million out of work, seven million underemployed, and millions of families still mired in poverty,” he added.

Binay also said that in order to boost the spending capability of people and address the people’s social needs during the pandemic, there should be a shift in the national government’s budget priorities.

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