Gov't assistance not band-aid solutions - Rep. Agbayani

Tuesday, 17 June 2008

Lingayen (17 June) -- 'When a calamity strikes, no government can really replace all the losses completely." Representative Victor Agbayani of the second district of Pangasinan put relief operations of government in this perspective as he answered observations that victims of typhoon Cosme are only getting band-aid solutions to their heavy burdens. "Due to the enormity of the problem because of the big number of people affected, the assistance extended by the government is subject to budgetary constraints but that does not mean that what the President is doing is not helping," Agbayani said. Agbayani added that the Chief Executive is doing other things for the economy which are expected to have long-term effects. He said, the short term solutions like financial assistance, GI sheets and food are provided for immediacy. Monetary subsidies like those given by the government, he said, are subject to studies. "As a former executive, I can tell you that there are certain budgetary sources where an executive has the discretion to source out and fund a certain project," the congressman said. Amidst the crisis on fuel, rice and power experienced by the public, Agbayani said Congress is exerting all efforts to make lives easier. He said there are certain suggestions to reduce value- added taxes and even a suggestion to suspend or remove VAT. A third suggestion is to continue with VAT but to use surplus revenues to subsidize particular commodities. He said the government is now undergoing studies for the subsidies but this entails much work. When asked to comment on the incumbent provincial officials' move to avail of loan to fund calamity projects, Agbayani said there is a need to avail of loan if resources are not enough. "Different folks, different strokes. But I also urge them to maximize existing resources. Loans should benefit the public for many years," Agbayani stressed. Rep. Agbayani was the province's three-term governor before he ran for Congress in 2007. (PIA-Pangasinan)

 

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