MANILA, Philippines – Cavite Governor Jonvic Remulla appeals to have the middle-class families be part of the government's financial aid amid the enhanced community quarantine due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
In his open letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, he said that while their province is one of those with the lowest poverty rate in the country, it doesn't mean that they are not affected by the financial impact of the COVID-19.
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“I write to you today to appeal for the middle class. I come from a province that is over 70% migrants. People who have climbed their way up in life: buying a house on mortgage; sending their children through college; having their 1st car or motorcycle on a 5 year instalment basis.
300,000 of them work in manila. 400,000 directly (factory workers) and indirectly (feeding, clothing, driving, retailing) from our economic zones. Our poverty incidence is one of the lowest in the country and our GDP per capita is just about the highest of all LGU’s outside of metro Manila," he said.
Remulla added that the middle class families living in subdivisions are also "hurt" and many have depleted their monthly budget.
"Most of the people who live in subdivisions such as tierra nevada, or tree lane, or lancaster, are employed in the private sector or SME’s. Double income homes, OFW’s, single mothers, transport operators and entrepreneurs, all of them rely on a monthly pay check. As grand as their gated villages sound, they are middle class people who see their pay checks every month deducted of their SSS,GSIS, Pag-ibig and salary loans, and the largest part-income taxes," Remulla said.
The governor said that in this continuing health crisis, no one is spared and everyone is "barely surviving."
"It is a time of crisis for everyone. Not just the poorest of the poor, but also those who have built much but not enough. They wait for the LGU’s to give them relief goods but those come few and far in between. They scrimp and pawn and borrow. They are barely surviving," he said.
Remulla then continued with his appeal to Duterte to consider them as part of the social amelioration program. He explained, " They may not get as much as the poorest of the poor but please consider their welfare. They are often overlooked. They pay the most taxes. They keep our economy alive. They are mostly law-abiding citizens. They need a break."
The Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) recently launched the social amelioration program aimed to provide financial assistance to the poorest of the poor. Duterte said it is the “largest and widest in the “country’s history."
— Sally, The Summit Express
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| Open letter to Duterte | Photo Courtesy: Facebook/ Jonvic Remulla |
In his open letter to President Rodrigo Duterte, he said that while their province is one of those with the lowest poverty rate in the country, it doesn't mean that they are not affected by the financial impact of the COVID-19.
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“I write to you today to appeal for the middle class. I come from a province that is over 70% migrants. People who have climbed their way up in life: buying a house on mortgage; sending their children through college; having their 1st car or motorcycle on a 5 year instalment basis.
300,000 of them work in manila. 400,000 directly (factory workers) and indirectly (feeding, clothing, driving, retailing) from our economic zones. Our poverty incidence is one of the lowest in the country and our GDP per capita is just about the highest of all LGU’s outside of metro Manila," he said.
Remulla added that the middle class families living in subdivisions are also "hurt" and many have depleted their monthly budget.
"Most of the people who live in subdivisions such as tierra nevada, or tree lane, or lancaster, are employed in the private sector or SME’s. Double income homes, OFW’s, single mothers, transport operators and entrepreneurs, all of them rely on a monthly pay check. As grand as their gated villages sound, they are middle class people who see their pay checks every month deducted of their SSS,GSIS, Pag-ibig and salary loans, and the largest part-income taxes," Remulla said.
The governor said that in this continuing health crisis, no one is spared and everyone is "barely surviving."
"It is a time of crisis for everyone. Not just the poorest of the poor, but also those who have built much but not enough. They wait for the LGU’s to give them relief goods but those come few and far in between. They scrimp and pawn and borrow. They are barely surviving," he said.
Remulla then continued with his appeal to Duterte to consider them as part of the social amelioration program. He explained, " They may not get as much as the poorest of the poor but please consider their welfare. They are often overlooked. They pay the most taxes. They keep our economy alive. They are mostly law-abiding citizens. They need a break."
The Department of Social and Welfare Development (DSWD) recently launched the social amelioration program aimed to provide financial assistance to the poorest of the poor. Duterte said it is the “largest and widest in the “country’s history."
— Sally, The Summit Express
