Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 29) — No budget has been allocated by the government to subsidize local manufacturers of health supplies and personal protective equipment for 2021 amid the pandemic, a lawmaker bared Tuesday.
House Committee on Trade and Industry vice chairman Manuel Zubiri revealed during the plenary debates on the Department of Trade and Industry’s 2021 budget that no funds were allotted to provide subsidy for local manufacturers of the much-needed products under its proposed ₱22.4-billion allocation.
Zubiri stood as sponsor of the department’s budget as the lower chamber resumed deliberations on House Bill 7727, or the 2021 General Appropriations Bill.
“Wala po silang budget for subsidies. How I wish na mabigyan po ng subsidy,” Zubiri said. “Kung mabigyan po natin ng budget, then definitely they will accept it and they will make sure that they will make use of it properly.”
[Translation: They have no budget for subsidies. How I wish there would be an allocation for the subsidies. If we can provide the budget, then definitely they will accept it and they will make sure that they will make use of it properly.]
The lawmaker lamented that in other countries, workers and employees in the manufacturing sector receive proper compensation.
“Marami pong bansa sa Southeast Asia, Europe o North America, nagbibigay po sila ng subsidies for their workers in the manufacturing sector, so at least sa pambayad ng sweldo sa empleyado nila, pero ito sa atin, wala.”
[Translation: Many countries in Southeast Asia, Europe or North America provide subsidies for their workers in the manufacturing sector, so at least, for the salaries of their employees, but for us, there’s none.]
Zubiri was responding to Gabriela Rep. Arlene Brosas’ interpellation on the department’s contribution to the government’s COVID-19 response.
“Kung anumang budget ang ilagak natin sa kahit anong ahensya kung hindi natin magagawan ng solusyon, magkakaproblema ang ekonomiya ng bansa, health and economy,” Zubiri said
[Translation: Whatever budget we allot, for any agency, if they don’t solve this, we will continue to face problems on health and the economy.]
Lawmakers also pushed to further increase the ₱2.2-billion budget of the DTI to assist pandemic-hit small businesses.
“We have to revive the economy. We need to pour out more money to DTI and its attached agencies,” Zubiri added.
Citing data from the DTI, Zubiru said only 6 percent of 1.5 million micro, small and medium-sized enterprises have yet to reopen amid the pandemic.
