President Duterte takes into consideration appeal for ‘middle class’
TRECE MARTIRES, Cavite, Apr. 8 (PIA) — President Rodrigo Roa Duterte responded to Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla’s appeal for the middle income families during his address to the nation recently.
The President said the appeal of Gov. Remulla to include the middle class in the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) is valid but is not yet feasible at the moment.
“Yung poorest of the poor, eto yung walang kita sa isang araw, di na makakain. Or, wala talagang trabaho,” the President emphasized.
This was in answer to Gov. Remulla’s letter to President Duterte on April 5, 2020 requesting to include the middle income class families in the granting of the Social Amelioration Program.
Gov. Remulla wrote, “I come from a province that is over 70% migrants. People who have climbed their way up in life: buying a house on mortgage; sending their children through college; having their 1st car or motorcycle on a 5-year instalment basis,” stressing his point.
“As grand as their gated villages sound, they are middle class people who see their paychecks every month decucted of their SSS, GSIS, Pag-ibig and salary loans, and the largest part-income taxes,” Gov. Jonvic wrote to further justify his appeal.
In consolation, the President calmly said, “I agree sa letter ni Gov. Remulla. I know the political horizon of the country. Kung maari lang isali ko sila. But can they be included in the P270B? Hindi pa sa ngayon,” giving finality to the issue.
Meanwhile, he revealed his administration’s plans of realigning the original budget.
“We are exploring options to adjust the earlier budget (the 2020 General Appropriations Act), realign or cancel ibang projects kase hindi pwede magutom ang tao,” prioritizing subsidy programs for the people during this time of emergency crisis.
The President appealed to all for cooperation and understanding to overcome this challenge. (Ruel Francisco, PIA-Cavite with reports from President Duterte’s address to the nation April 6, 2020 and Gov. Jonvic Remulla’s letter to the President)
source https://pia.gov.ph/news/articles/1038330