Social Protection Programs in the PH Need Major Improvements

In the news, it was recently reported that Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Benjamin maintains that COVID-19 ayuda or financial assistance should be stopped.

“On the giving of ayuda in relation to the crisis, I think that should already be discounted because we have actually fully recovered and because of the limited fiscal space,” said Sec Diokno.

He even goes on to say that “The giving out of ayuda about the pandemic is already a waste of public funds,”

In light of Sec Diokno’s recent statements, research and advocacy group IBON Foundation has commented saying that “Slashing funds for social protection despite the unresolved pandemic and economic crisis shows the administration’s insensitivity to millions of Filipinos in distress and its deliberate intent to ignore the country’s glaring problems,”

“A well-designed ayuda that will start to improve the situation of millions of Filipinos is both urgent and necessary and is not a waste of funds as the administration claims,”  they added.

Although, Sec Diokno has said this at a time when the country is still recovering economically, with ballooning debts of the country, high inflation rates, and an all-time new peso high.

But I disagree with calling ayuda a waste of public funds.

Back in 2021, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported that 26.14 million Filipinos lived below the poverty threshold which is already set at ₱12,082 for an average family of five.

If you put this into context, then no. Ayuda or giving financial assistance is not a waste of public funds. It can spell a huge difference for those beneficiaries at the receiving end.

The reality is that Filipinos are in dire need of not just financial assistance, but means of social protection as well such as health coverage and unemployment coverage.

Compared to developed countries, the Philippines lags in social protection measures for its citizens. Accessibility, information, and coverage are areas in which social protection programs need huge improvements to be able to reach more people and effectively achieve their mandate.

Source: Philstar