The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) said the Duterte government must stop treating low-income Filipinos in urgent need of aid and economic relief as beggars and vagrants asking for alms. KMP said the extended Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) will be just a prolonged burden to Filipinos if the most immediate demands of aid and strengthening of the collapsing health care are not addressed.

“Kulang ng siyam na libo sa hinihinging P10,000 na ayuda ang ibibigay ng gobyerno. Kulang na nga, delayed at installment pa,” Ramos said, saying that the people’s demand is for P10,000 cash aid for 22.5 million families.

According to DILG’s directives, local government units (LGUs) will have 15 days to distribute the P1000 in cash and 30 days if the aid is in kind. “It will take forever to distribute the aid. Kailan pa matatanggap ng mga kababayan natin ang ayuda samantalang ngayon na nila ito kailangan,” says KMP chairperson Danilo Ramos. The distribution of the ayuda is as follows:

Metro Manila – 11.2 million individuals
Bulacan – 3 million individuals
Rizal – 2.6 million individuals
Laguna – 2.7 million individuals
Cavite – 3.4 million individuals

KMP said the P1,000 aid to be distributed by LGUs to 22.9 million indigent Filipinos is not enough and could not buy a week’s worth of food and other needs for a family of four. Saan makakarating ang P1,000? Katumbas lang ito ng tatlong araw na badyet sa pagkain para sa pamilyang may apat na myembro. Tipid na tipid pa ito. Paano pa ang ibang pangangailangan?”

“The DILG and the DBM are speaking as if the P1,000 aid is something to be thankful for. They are not even apologetic for their weakness in providing economic aid. The P22-billion allotted by the DBM for the latest ECQ aid are leftover funds from the Bayanihan 2 budget. Ayaw nang maglabas ng pondo ng DBM samantalang napakalaki ng inutang ng gobyerno para sa pandemic

Farmers are supporting House Bill 9089 or  EC Aid 2021 filed by Gabriela Partylist demanding P10,000 emergency cash assistance per month for 2 months, for families with less than P60,000 monthly income.

Aside from the P10,000 cash aid, KMP is also demanding for P15,000 production subsidy for farmers and fishers to help them with unhampered farming, fishing, and food production. #