P2,000 ayuda for all Pinoys sought under Bayanihan 3

Every Filipino citizen is expected to receive a P2,000 cash assistance from the government once the proposed Bayanihan to Arise As One Act, or Bayanihan 3 has been approved.

The all-inclusive third Bayanihan measure will contain a stimulus package amounting to P405 billion to help every Filipino, the rich, the poor, and the middle class, amid the ongoing health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill will also provide a total funding of P216 billion for the implantation of the P2,000 cash subsidy to be given to all 108 million Filipinos regardless of social status.

The said assistance will be given in two tranches.

According to House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco, the measure only needs the approval of the Committee on Appropriations before endorsement to the plenary for its second and third reading.

"As soon as we get back on May 17, we will fast-track the approval of Bayanihan 3," Velaso said in an interview with DZME.

"Lahat po dapat mabigyan natin ng tulong ngayong pandemya (Everyone should be given aid during this pandemic)," he added.

"It has to be equitable. Hindi 'yung isang household bibigyan ng certain amount e baka tatatlo lang sila sa bahay tapos ang isang household naman ay 15 ang myembro. Dapat po pantay-pantay," the speaker said.

According to a Congress press release, "to raise funds for Bayanihan 3, Congress seeks to authorize the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to make additional advances with or without interest to the national government to finance expenditures authorized by law to address and respond to the COVID-19 pandemic."

It also wants to increase from 50 percent to 75 percent the mandatory dividend remittances by government-owned and controlled corporations (GOCCs) and to grant the President the power to withdraw capital from overcapitalized GOCCs."