By Fernan Angeles
THE Senate contingent in the bicameral conference for Bayanihan 2 spotted a P1 billion fund insertion by the House of Representatives wanting to construct additional comfort rooms and streets.
“Ito ang mahabang diskusyon na nangyari dahil ang ibig ng mga kongresista ay ilagay ito sa pagpapatayo ng kubeta at kalsada habang ang Senado naman ay ipinaglaban natin ‘yung position ng DOT na ito ay tulong sa pamamagitan ng soft loans para doon sa mga maliliit na kumpanya na nagsara o nahirapan sa COVID-19 pandemic,” Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said in a radio interview.
“Kasama ang debate sa aming trabaho. At the end of the day, nagkasundo kami kung paano gagastusin ang pera para sa turismo. Hindi po kubeta at kalsada ang gagawin kung hindi ibibigay sa mga manggagawa na natanggal at nawalan ng trabaho at para doon sa mga kumpanya sa tourism industry,” he added.
Drilon said, the P10-billion assistance for the tourism industry, remains intact. Of the amount, P6 billion is earmarked as loanable funds for small tourism players, P3 billion will be used to assist the displaced workers, and P1 billion will go to infrastructure.
“Mayroon pong P1 billion para sa kubeta at kalsada,” he said.
The reconciled version of the P165.5 billion Bayanihan 2 bill, or the proposed Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, was ratified by the Senate on Thursday. The House is expected to ratify it on Monday.
During Thursday’s bicameral meeting, Senator Pia Cayetano came into the defense of House members amid “insinuations” that congressmen have ill motives for pushing for tourism infrastructure.