Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday said he will continue to rally for the passage of the proposed 10K Ayuda Bill upon the opening of the 18th Congress’s Third Regular Session on Monday, July 26.
In an interview with RMN News Nationwide on July 23, Cayetano said he will continue to lobby not only for the 10K Ayuda Bill, but also for the annual distribution of the 10K Ayuda for at least three to five years.
“Definitely, talagang ‘yan ang aking focus at ipaglalaban na hindi lang sa 2022 budget, hindi lang sa five-year plan, pero sa susunod na three to five years,” Cayetano said.
(We will definitely focus on and fight for the 10K Ayuda Bill to be included not only in the 2022 budget and the five-year plan, but also in the next three to five years.)
“Kung mayroon tayong P100 billion para sa 4Ps, bakit hindi natin puwede dagdagan ng P150 billion for a total of P250 billion para lahat ng pamilya ay mayroong pang-ahon, hindi lang pantawid?” he added.
(If we are able to allocate P100 billion for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program [4Ps] annually, then why can we not add P150 billion more and allocate a total of P250 billion per year so that every Filipino family has a chance to fully recover and not just get by?)
Cayetano said even the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) believes capacitating public consumers will increase the country’s household final consumption expenditure and improve the economy.
He also said the proposal is attainable, citing the distribution of cash aid under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of Bayanihan 1 and 2 and the implementation of mandatory savings as examples of similar programs previously implemented by the government.
“Kung hihimayin mo, first of all, tanong: beneficial ba sa ating mga kababayan na mabigyan ng P10,000 hindi lang ngayong taon pero the next three to five years? Ang sagot [ay] yes,” Cayetano said.
(Among the questions asked is whether or not the proposed distribution of P10,000 in cash aid is beneficial to the people not only this year but also in the next three to five years. The answer is yes.)
“Hindi lang beneficial – kailangan na kailangan,” he added.
(It is not only beneficial – it is also necessary.)
The 10K Ayuda Bill was filed by Cayetano and his allies in Congress on February 1 with the aim of providing every Filipino family with P10,000 in cash aid that will enable them to participate in the market, buy their daily needs, and provide a fresh start for their small businesses.
The proposed measure was consolidated into Bayanihan 3 but the provision of P10,000 for every family was not adopted.
