House panel to defeat COVID-19 set to hold ‘modified hearing’

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ Defeat COVID-19 Committee (DCC) will have a “modified hearing” on Tuesday to tackle proposals on economic packages in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the hearing will focus on DCC’s economic stimulus cluster wherein three congressmen — Albay Rep. Joey Salceda, AAMBIS-OWA Partylist Rep. Sharon Garin, and Marikina Rep. Stella Quimbo—will present their proposals.

Following quarantine measures, Cayetano said the hearing will be conducted online.

“Magsasalita sa umpisa ‘yung ibang executive then ipe-present ng tatlong congressman, Rep. Joey Salceda, Rep. Sharon Garin, Rep. Stella Quimbo ang proposals nila then we’ll allow the media to ask,” Cayetano said.

Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Martin 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 its effect on the economy and the general public especially the labor force.”

Meanwhile, the Speaker said another financial package, which he described as “quite a big amount,” is being prepared and is targeted towards helping micro-small-medium enterprises and members of Social Security System (SSS).

Further, Cayetano denied that the government is disregarding the middle class, saying that measures were also implemented to help them such as the extension of payment of bills and filing of taxes, among others.

“Bare with us, wala lang bibitaw, the important thing is ang enhanced community quarantine is working (Bare with us, just hold on. The important this is the enhanced community quarantine is working),” Cayetano said.

“Tugunan natin ‘yung paghihirap ng tao pero wala po sanang bibitaw kasi kapag tayo ay lumabas ng bahay at tumaas na naman ang numero, sayang naman ‘yung tatlo o apat na linggong tinaas niyo na rin (Let’s first address the struggles of the public, but just hold on because if we leave our homes and the number of cases increases again, the three to four weeks we sacrificed will just be put to waste),” he added.

EDV