Senate Majority Leader Migz Zubiri said the request of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte to pass a stimulus package is part of his legislative priority as a re-elected senator of the 19th Congress.
He said it will have his full support. “This measure is badly needed to jumpstart our economic recovery and push us to become an Asian Tiger in the region,” also said Zubiri.
He said his campaign promise is to pass a Bayanihan 3 package to provide funding assistance to distressed industries such as tourism and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) that were affected by the pandemic.
Comebacking Sen. Loren Legarda also committed to rally behind the proposed stimulus package to be given to small businesses severely affected by COVID-19.
“I will ensure that the MSME law will be adequately funded. I will ensure that MSME programs of various government agencies will be effectively implemented. I will support the economic empowerment of every Filipino family,” she said.
According to Legarda, she will vouch for the immediate approval of 2023 budget.
“Yes, of course. We will study the National Expenditures Program and see if it’s aligned to a pandemic recovery budget, and amend it when needed.
Another comebacking senator Sorsorgon Gov. Chiz Escudero said he completely agrees with the President.
“This is exactly what we need, especially for MSMEs and the agriculture sector. Election spending spurred and increased our GDP and must be sustained in order to spur the economy further and create needed stable jobs domestically,” he said.
Aside from borrowing, he said the possible sources would be the sale of unnecessary government assets, improvement in the collection of current taxes, fees, and charges, curbing/lessening corruption, and the proper allocation of scarce resources through the yearly budget.
“I look forward to working with like-minded and development/reform-oriented people in government, regardless of affiliation or color they may have had or carried in the last
elections and call on our people to do the same. Our country and people
deserve nothing less,” he further stated.
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III said the general ideas are good. “But we have to look at the details,” he added
