Former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday said he will push for the provision of basic necessities such as healthcare centers and educational scholarships in every barangay should he be elected as senator in the May elections.
“Bakit hindi natin gawin sa national ‘yan? Magpasa tayo ng batas na may checklist [ng basic necessities],” Cayetano said during the Liga ng mga Barangay sa Pilipinas’ Clustered General Membership Assembly and Presentation of 2022 LBP Constitution and By-Law on March 17, 2022.
(Why don’t we do it at the national level? Let’s enact a law providing a checklist of the basic necessities in every barangay.)
He said he will propose a “national minimum basic necessity checklist” in the Senate and push for the provision of technology and cash assistance such as the 10K Ayuda in every barangay.
Citing the achievements of Taguig City as an example, Cayetano, who is gunning for a Senate comeback in the upcoming elections, said bringing health and social services closer to the people will help the local chief executives of the barangays focus on the other aspects of their communities, including the maintenance of peace and order.
“Kung maipapasa natin sa Senado na lahat ng barangay may health center, lahat ng barangay may opisina, lahat ng barangay ay mayroong daycare, etc., hindi niyo na pro-problemahin y’un,” he said.
(If we are able to pass a law in the Senate that would mandate the establishment of a health center, an office, a daycare center, among others, in every barangay, then you won’t have to worry about it.)
“Kung lahat ng lugar may tubig, may kuryente, at may internet na libre, hindi na kayo mahihirapan. Y’un ang ibig namin sabihin sa tulungan,” he added.
(If every place had a supply of water, electricity, and free internet, you won’t have difficulties providing them anymore. That’s what we mean when we say collaboration.)
Cayetano said in Taguig, maintenance medicine for the sick are delivered house-to-house on a monthly basis, school-based clinics are improved and provided to monitor the health and wellness of students, and three health centers that operate 24/7 are available to ensure that basic necessities are accessible to the people.
Other programs for senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and other vulnerable sectors are also available in the city.
“We’re not helpless. Napakalaki ng budget ng gobyerno (The government budget is huge.),” he said.###
