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Netizens expressed their concerns regarding the inclusion of a Php54.6 billion allocation at the Bayanihan To Rise As One Act (Bayanihan 3) for the pension of the military and police.
The lawmakers at the House of Representatives proposed a new pandemic relief package worth Php401 billion. Almost 14% of that to be given to the retired soldiers and cops. It is the second biggest appropriation in the proposed budget, placing above programs like wage subsidies, allowance for teachers, and aid for the agriculture and fishery sectors.
Netizens can’t help but questioned the proposed allocation. To them, the money can be allocated to other things such as aid for the poor and those severely affected by the pandemic.
https://twitter.com/jcpunongbayan/status/1399496583029293057
Another implied that healthcare workers have “left the group” as the sector didn’t have as big of an allocation in Bayanihan 3.
Healthcare workers left the group. https://t.co/1TQ6kiThLt
— Carlo Trinidad (@hellokidneyMD) May 31, 2021
Someone reminded the Government that the pandemic is a “health war” and not a “military war.”
He stated that the frontliners need the budget the most to help with the COVID relief.
“What a wrong priority.”
As far as i know we are at HEALTH WAR not military war. Its been a year still nothing good is happening to our Health Care workers. They needed it the most, Bayanihan 3 was created to help our HEALTH CARE.
They can create diff Law for this pension etc. What a wrong priority.
— James Cedric Lim Hassan (@JamesCedricLim) May 31, 2021
Twitter user Cherry questioned the military and police’s measures that should help lower the coronavirus cases in the Philippines.
So what exactly are they doing to lower covid cases and reach herd immunity? To think they cannot even defend the WPS. 😏😒 https://t.co/3rVfzKAlQQ
— Cherry 🌸 #LeniKiko2022 #21ChelDioknoSaSenado (@xAnnCherryx) June 1, 2021
“Ang increase [sa] hazard pay ba ng healthcare workers tinaasan na?” a Netizen asked.
https://twitter.com/RyaanEugenio/status/1399699162350845954
Someone described the military and police as “irrelevant” to the current health crisis.
https://twitter.com/biraojc/status/1399690405390675970
On the other hand, a Netizen also wanted the Government to prioritize the livelihood sectors.
https://twitter.com/hanpanmann_/status/1399645168848932867
A Netizen accused President Rodrigo Duterte of bribing the policemen and army to “keep their loyalties.”
Basically, they are legalizing Duterte's bribe to keep their loyalties.
Lahat sila traydor sa bayan. Lahat. https://t.co/g9w7VFMnrG
— Bern (@prodeeboy) May 31, 2021
Congress passed the third and final reading of the Bayanihan 3 on June 1. Parts of the proposed law said that it is to act as a lifeline for Filipinos who are affected by unemployment and hunger during the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is divided into three Phases. Phases 1 and 2 contain aid to Filipinos including Php208 million that will be divided to Php2,000 per Filipino divided into Php1,000 installments per phase.
Bayanihan 3 is a follow-up to Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, also known as Bayanihan Act, which gave President Rodrigo Duterte additional authority to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
The law expired on June 24, 2020, and the Bayanihan to Recover as One Bill was filed almost a year after.
On the other hand, the PDP-Laban has passed a resolution urging lawmakers to increase the funding for the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELACAC).
It was adopted on May 31, during a National Council Assembly of the political party in Cebu City.
“I firmly believe these funds are very important in ensuring our kababayans in the hinterlands will feel government presence and government services so deleting or scrapping the ELCAC funds will only bolster the insurgency problem of several areas in the country,” said Eastern Samar Governor Ben Evardone who proposed the resolution.
