UMAASA ang isang mambabatas sa minority bloc sa Kamara na bibigyan ng agarang aksiyon ng mga kinauukulang ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang animo’y pagsusumamo ng iba’t ibang government suppliers at contractors na sila ay mabayaran lalo’t hirap na rin sila dulot ng nararanasang pandemya.

Ayon kay House Deputy Minority Leader at Marikina City Rep. Bayani Fernando, kung dapat palakasin ang ‘Build, Build, Build’ program na kabilang sa hakbanging muling ibangon at pasiglahin ang ekonomiya ng bansa na sumadsad sanhi ng national health crisis, kinakailangang tapatan ito at maging masigasig din ang gobyerno sa pagpapatupad ng ‘Pay, Pay, Pay’ mechanism.

Babala ng ranking House minority official, kung patuloy na uupuan ng mga government agency ang obligasyon nila sa kani-kanilang suppliers at contractors, maaaring humantong ito sa pagkalugi hanggang sa tuluyang pagsasara sa negosyo at magreresulta pa sa pagkawala ng trabaho ng kanilang mga empleyado.

“For these reasons that I would like to appeal and call the attention of the people in the government involved in the disbursement of payments to goods and services delivered by contracting entities and individuals to exert effort and expedite the processing of payments to keep production going and stave off closures amid the economic recession,” ang panawagan ni Fernando.

Base sa datos na nakalap ng Marikina City lawmaker, noon lamang taong 2019 umano ay sampung ahensiya ng pamahalaan ang may malaking pagkakautang, kabilang na ang Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr) at Department of Education (DepEd), na partikular na nakapagtala ng kabuuang P127.9-B financial liabilities.

Bukod dito, sinabi ni Fernando na base sa report ng Commission on Audit (COA), umaabot sa P53.2-B na guaranty/security deposits ng government suppliers at contractors ang hindi pa rin nare-release.

“The business sector has a big role to play to revive the economy. But if their resources are held by the government, they have no choice but to resort to lay-offs or to close their businesses. More lay-offs are bound to happen if the government will continue with its non-payment,” paalala pa ng kongresista.

“Infrastructure projects has always been the panacea of all governments to address recession as it is productive and a good investment. It is never a waste of money. However, BUILD, BUILD, BUILD must go with PAY, PAY, PAY,” pagbibigay-diin pa niya. (CESAR BARQUILLA)