Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said the proposed 10K Ayuda Bill would provide members of groups, cooperatives, and associations with the cash assistance they need to pay for their daily living expenses and support their families.
In an interview with RMN Dumaguete on June 25, Cayetano said that while the local Presyo, Trabaho, Kita (PTK) program had been a success before the pandemic hit, many of the members are opting to use the money now to provide for their personal needs.
“Napakarami na successful pero nitong COVID-19, nagpaalam ‘yung iba, ginamit muna nilang pambili ng bigas at pamigay. That’s why nga ang aking tinutulak ngayon [ay] ‘yung 10K, kasi kahit na pondohan natin ulit ang mga kooperatiba [at] mga tricycle driver eh sa pang-araw-araw nila gagamitin,” he said.
(There are many success stories, but during the pandemic, some of them asked permission to use the seed money for their daily needs. That is why we are pushing for the 10K Ayuda: it might be impractical for us to fund our cooperatives and associations now when they will use it for the same purposes as the cash aid.)
“So, kailangan nila ng malaki-laking amount para medyo mabayaran ‘yung utang at mapaikot ‘yung pera,” Cayetano added.
(So they need a bigger amount to pay for their debt and invest the money.)
The PTK Cayetano’s initiative aimed at addressing the needs of ordinary Filipinos by providing them with easy access to capital which they can use for micro and small businesses and other livelihood activities. It helps protect Filipino entrepreneurs from falling into the traps of being indebted to loan sharks, or what is popularly known as 5/6 in the Philippines.
“‘Yung PTK o Presyo, Trabaho, Kita [program], binigyan namin ng P50,000-P250,000 [ang mga] palengke, tricycle driver, at ibang tourism association, at ‘yun [ay] pinautang nila sa sarili nila para hindi naman 5/6,” he said.
(In PTK or the Presyo, Trabaho, Kita [program], we give cash assistance ranging from P50,000 to P250,000 to market associations, tricycle operators and drivers associations, and tourism associations which they can use as seed money.)
Cayetano said he remains hopeful for the 10K Ayuda Bill, noting that Bayanihan 3 will still have to go through the Senate and the bicameral conference committee.
“We’re not losing hope. Mayroon pa namang bicam, mayroon ding magfa-file sa Senado nung 10K Ayuda, at ang proposal natin ay hindi one time, hindi lang ngayong 2021, but gawin ‘to sa budget in the next three to five years,” he said.
(We are not losing hope. [The proposed stimulus package] will still have to go through the bicameral conference committee, and we are expecting someone from the Senate to file a bill similar to the 10K Ayuda. Our proposal is also not a one-time event, but an annual distribution of cash assistance.)
“Kung nakakapagbigay tayo ng P100 billion sa 4Ps kasi sila’y naiwanan o mga hirap na hirap, bakit tayo hindi makakapagdagdag ng P100 billion para doon sa mga pamilyang tinamaan talaga ng COVID-19 para magkaroon ng 10K kahit isang beses man lang sa isang taon?” he added.
(If we are able to allocate P100 billion for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) every year because the beneficiaries are left behind and are in dire of need of help, then why cannot we add P100 billion for the families that were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic so that they would receive 10K at least once a year?)
He also stressed that the proposed distribution of the 10K Ayuda is not a dole out but an economic stimulus.
“Napatunayan ito sa napakaraming bansa na effective talaga ito dahil umiikot ang pera, so mula sa sari-sari store, sa karenderya, sa mga grocery, sa mga transports, and kumikita nang konti at may panggastos ang tao,” he said.
(This has been proven effective in other countries because the money is circulated in the market. From the sari-sari stores to the canteens to the groceries, people would earn enough money which would enable them to pay for their needs.)
