Gov’t needs to prioritize the poor, Robin Padilla tells Cavite governor

MANILA, Philippines — The government has to prioritize poor families during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis,  actor Robin Padilla said, in response to Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla’s appeal to include the middle class in the government’s social amelioration program.

Remulla, in a letter to President Duterte, had asked for the inclusion of the “overlooked” middle class in the government’s social amelioration program aimed at helping them cope amid the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine.

“Sir Governor alam ni mayor PRRD ang ginagawa niya hindi puedeng sabay sabay sa isang bagsakan dahil limitado rin ang resources ng bansa,” Padilla, a known supporter of Duterte, said Tuesday on his Instagram page.

(Sir Governor, PRRD knows what he is doing. Addressing everything at once is not possible since the country has limited resources.)

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-pEv_gpdsJ/

“Ngayon sa pagharap natin sa digmaan laban sa kalaban na hindi nakikita ang mahirap at pinakamahihirap ang tatamaan nito ng bigtime PLAGUE ito governor kapag hindi naalagaan ang disiplina kapakanan at kalusugan ng mga mahihirap kapag hindi sila inuna expect death on a massive scale,” he added.

(As we face a battle against an enemy we can’t see, the poorest are the most affected here. This is a plague, governor. If the poor families’ health are not well taken care of and prioritized, expect death on a massive scale.)

Robin said the government is extending assistance to the working class suspending the payment of taxes to also help them cope with the ongoing health crisis.

During a televised public address, the President said he “agrees” with Remulla’s appeal while noting that the government’s P270-billion budget for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) measures is not enough.

The Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease said the government is already studying the proposal of extending aid to middle-income households.

IATF said the government is looking at other programs for the middle class since they are not qualified under the social amelioration program, where some 18 million low-income families will be given cash assistance ranging from P5,000 to P8,000.

GSG