Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar “Egay” Erice on Friday led city government officials and leaders in lobbying for the 10K Ayuda Bill during the local edition of the Sampung Libong Pag-asa program where 415 beneficiaries received 10K Ayuda.
The Sampung Libong Pag-asa program was launched by former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and his allies in Congress on May 1 as part of their campaign to include the P10,000 in cash aid provision under the proposed Bayanihan 3.
It showcases a key part of Cayetano’s economic recovery plan to assist Filipino families with cash assistance to help them purchase their basic needs and revive their sources of income amid the ongoing pandemic.
“Naniniwala kami sa spirit at sa advocacy na ito, kaya handang handa kami tumulong hindi lang sa Caloocan kung hindi maging sa Kongreso,” Erice said during the program broadcast on Cayetano’s official Facebook page on July 23.
(We believe in the spirit and the advocacy of this program, which is why we are ready to help not only in Caloocan City but also in Congress.)
“Makakabangon lang tayo dito sa pandemyang ito kung mas maraming pamilya y’ung makakabangon, at y’ung 10K Ayuda na ito ang makakapagpabangon sa mas maraming pamilya,” he added.
(We can only recover from the pandemic if the majority of our Filipino families recover, and the key to their recovery is the 10K Ayuda.)
He urged Cayetano and his group to continue distributing the 10K Ayuda in hopes of encouraging those in the private sector and of getting heard by the government.
“Kaya sa aking palagay [ay] dapat ituloy namin [ito] at baka naman marinig ng iba doon sa private sector at pinakamahalaga, sa gobyerno,” Erice said.
(I think we ought to continue the program to be heard by those in the private sector and most importantly, by the government.)
District 2 Councilor Alexander “Alex” Mangasar, who joined Taguig 2nd District Rep. Maria Laarni “Lani” Cayetano and area host Denise Tan in the live satellite area in Grace Park, encouraged the beneficiaries to use the 10K Ayuda wisely.
“Sana gamitin nila sa mas magandang [bagay] at mapaunlad nila ito, [dahil] itong 10K Ayuda ay simula pa lang. Sana ay maaprubahan na sa Kongreso para mas marami pang magbenepisyo,” Mangasar said.
(Hopefully, the beneficiaries will use the money wisely and to multiply it, because the 10K Ayuda is only a beginning. We are hoping that it would be approved in Congress so many others can benefit.)
District 1 Councilors Christopher “PJ” Malonzo and Marylou “Alou” Nubla were also present during the program via remote link.
In his short speech, Malonzo said that while the beneficiaries come from different backgrounds, they all have the same problem: the inability to provide for their family’s daily needs.
“Alam ninyo, iba’t iba ang mga pinanggalingan ng mga benepisyaryo ng ating 10K Ayuda dito. Iba-iba ang kanilang mga istorya, pero iisa ang kanilang daing at y’un ang kanilang financial capacity – kung papaano nila matutugunan ang mga pangunahing pangangailangan lalo na’t mahigit isang taon na tayong humaharap sa pandemya,” he said.
(The beneficiaries here today come from different backgrounds. They have different stories, but they share one problem and that is financial capacity – how they will provide for their daily needs, especially since it has been more than a year since the pandemic started.)
Former Mayor Atty. Enrico “Recom” Echiverri and a number of Caloocan City leaders from the newly created District 3 also joined Cayetano in calling for the passage of the 10K Ayuda Bill.
“Ako’y naniniwala na itong Sampung Libong Pag-asa na ito na initiated ni dating Speaker Cayetano ay tutulak na rin sa Kongreso,” he said.
(I believe that the Sampung Libong Pag-asa program will start to push in Congress.)
“Sayang nga lang at wala pa tayo sa Kongreso. Pero ‘wag kayo mag-alala, Speaker, ‘pag inabutan ko ‘yan diyan, siguradong approved na ‘yan pagdating ng next Congress. Umasa ka naman sa amin dito sa District 3 ay marami kaming maitutulong sa inyo,” Echiverri added.
(It is a pity that we are not part of the current Congress. But do not worry because once we are elected as a representative, I assure you of its approval. You can count on us here in District 3 to help you.)
Other Caloocan City leaders present were Barangay Chairperson Nicanor “Nick” Repollo of Brgy. 154 and Barangay Councilor Rodolfo “Ato” Oliva of Brgy. 185.###