Tag: cash aid

Congressman-elect Yamsuan to implement twin programs to improve financial literacy of Parañaque folks

Congressman-elect Yamsuan to implement twin programs to improve financial literacy of Parañaque folks

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Recently the incoming Parañaque District 2 Representative Brian Yamsuan confirmed that he is banking on twin livelihood and employment programs to improve the financial literacy of his constituents, according to a Manila Bulletin news report.

To put things in perspective, posted below is an excerpt from the news report of the Manila Bulletin. Some parts in boldface…

Parañaque City 2nd district representative-elect Brian Raymund Yamsuan is eyeing a “culture of financial literacy” for his constituents through his twin livelihood and employment programs.

Yamsuan, who served as Bicol Saro Party-list representative in the 19th Congress, said he will make financial literacy a key component of the training received by livelihood program beneficiaries in a bid to them make informed and responsible decisions about the funds they have received from the government.

These include recipients of Yamsuan’s “Bigay Negosyo” and “Dagdag Puhunan Para sa Kabuhayan” programs, which he has been implementing in his home district in coordination with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), respectively.

“Ang layunin natin ay maging ‘wais’ ang bawat Parañaqueño sa paghawak ng kanilang pera, simula dito sa distrito dos (Our goal is to make every Parañaqueno handle their money wisely, starting here in district two),” he said.

“Many people think that financial literacy is a daunting, complex idea. We will partner with private sector groups to simplify and explain financial concepts so that they would be easy to understand and put into practice,” Yamsuan noted.

“Kasama na sa financial literacy program ang pagtuturo sa kanila kung paano mag-budget, mag-ipon, mag-invest, humiram ng karagdagang pondo at magkaroon ng kaalaman tungkol sa mga financial products and services na maari nilang gamitin para mapalago ang kanilang maliit na negosyo,” explained the former Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) secretary.

(Included in the financial literacy program is teaching them how to budget, save, invest and borrow additional funds and other knowledge about financial products and services that they can use to expand their small businesses.)

“Developing a culture of financial literacy should be our first step towards financial inclusion where every Filipino, regardless of his economic status, has easy and affordable access to financial services,” he added. 

Yamsuan said he is also planning to include “ayuda” or cash aid beneficiaries in his financial literacy program.

“The government allocates billions of pesos each year under the national budget to fund livelihood programs and provide ‘ayuda’ to our low-income countrymen. Financial literacy will not only help recipients of these support programs make rational decisions about the money they receive, but will also mean less ‘ayuda’ and other forms of social protection going to waste due to poor financial decisions,” he said.

Let me end this post by asking you readers: What do you think about this recent development? If you are a resident of Parañaque, do you think Congressman-elect Yamsuan’s twin programs will succeed in making his constituents more knowledgeable about financial literacy? Do you think a more financial literate population is the key to cutting down people’s dependence on ayuda or assistance from the government? How many members of your local community became dependent on ayuda since the COVID-19 pandemic?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagement, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673

COVID-19 Crisis: ECQ in Metro Manila to be extended beyond August 20?

COVID-19 Crisis: ECQ in Metro Manila to be extended beyond August 20?

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The Manila Bulletin reported yesterday that Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos confirmed that he and the National Capital Region (NCR) mayors will meet very soon to talk about the possible extension of the ongoing enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) which itself was announced to last until August 20, 2021. Meanwhile, a GMA Network news report states that the Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) expressed that a lockdown is not the remedy and that the reopening of the economy is necessary.

To put things in perspective, posted below is the excerpt from the Manila Bulletin news report regarding Abalos and the Metro Manila mayors. Some parts in boldface…

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said he and the mayors of the National Capital Region (NCR) will discuss the possible extension of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) period in the metropolis this coming week.

Abalos made this revelation in an interview over DZBB radio on Sunday, Aug. 15.

“Martes or Miyerkules mag-uusap po kami, marami kang babalansehin diyan (We will talk either Tuesday or Wednesday, you have to balance a lot of things there),” said Abalos, who is the concurrent chair of the Metro Manila Council (MMC).

He said the factors that need to be considered in such talks are the number of those who will have no work as a result of the possible ECQ extension, the hospitalization rate for coroanvirus disease (COVID-19) cases, and the number of vaccinated persons in Metro Manila.

“Kasi kung mag-i-ECQ ka, ayuda nanaman yan eh (Another round of ECQ means another round of cash aid),” he pointed out.

Abalos reiterated in the interview that the mayor-members of MMC have yet to come to an agreement on whether or not to extend the imposition of ECQ, contrary to a news report over the weekend.

“Hindi pa po nag-uusap tungkol doon, pag-uusapan pa lang po (We haven’t talked about that yet, but we will),” he noted.

The report quoted MMC chair, Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez as saying that the local chief executives have agreed during a meeting to extend the ECQ up to Aug. 30. Abalos has denied this, saying that Olivarez was just misquoted.

In addition, Abalos and the Metro Manila mayors should be aware of the presence of the Lambda variant in the Philippines. For sure that will be discussed in their meeting.

Now, we focus on the economic side with this excerpt from the GMA news report. Some parts in boldface…

The Employers Confederation of the Philippines (ECOP) on Saturday said reopening of the economy is necessary to prevent further economic damage and job losses, along with continued rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and adherence to health protocols.

“It’s time we learn that lockdown is not the remedy,” ECOP president Sergio Ortiz-Luis Jr. said in a statement.

“Let’s compromise, we have to think that the economy is more important and we have to live with COVID-19,” he said.

Ortiz-Luis made the statement amid speculations of possible extension of the two-week enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Metro Manila after August 20.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez earlier said that the possibility of extending the ECQ in Metro Manila for another three weeks is not yet on the table, and talks of a five-week ECQ are mere rumors and disinformation.

Citing government estimates, Ortiz-Luis said lockdowns cost the economy P150 billion a week, or P300 billion for the two-week ECQ.

Further, he pointed out that the estimated lockdown losses are on top of business closures that lead to unemployment.

“It would have been much productive and useful to channel even a fifth of these losses to strengthen our healthcare system to address the cases and for prevention measures,” the ECOP chief said.

Ortiz-Luis, likewise, noted that the number of deaths related to the coronavirus is small compared to those who die due to other diseases, and even suicide and hunger.

He said there is thus a need to intensify monitoring of severe cases as a large majority of COVID-19 infections are asymptomatic.

“Let us not be fixated on the numbers. Instead, let us intensify and fast-track our vaccination.

“Let us not forget practicing health protocols and comply with quarantine classifications. Continue adding hospital rooms, facilities, COVID-19 centers…,” he said.

Let me end this piece by asking you readers: Do you think that the MMDA and the Metro Manila mayors will recommend an extension of the ECQ knowing that such a move will require another round of releasing cash aid/ayuda? Do you think the ECOP is correct with the economic damage estimates of P150 billion per week of lockdown?

Within your city of residence, are you satisfied with the way that your local government and its partners are organizing the registration, set-ups and COVID-19 vaccination operations?

Did you hear the recent news about a fully vaccinated patient (two doses in Mandaluyong City) who somehow got a third shot of COVID-19 vaccine in another city?

Still within your city, how many people do you personally know lost their jobs because of the most recent ECQ? Are there any business owners you know who had no choice but to scale down operations or shut down entirely all because of the ECQ?

You may answer in the comments below. If you prefer to answer privately, you may do so by sending me a direct message online.

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Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me as well. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me at HavenorFantasy@twitter.com

For more South Metro Manila community news and developments, come back here soon. Also say NO to fake news, NO to irresponsible journalism, NO to misinformation, NO to plagiarists, NO to reckless publishers and NO to sinister propaganda when it comes to news and developments. For South Metro Manila community developments, member engagements, commerce and other relevant updates, join the growing South Metro Manila Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/342183059992673