A total of 10,458 beneficiaries have now received P10,000 in cash aid from the Sampung Libong Pag-asa initiative of former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and allies from the Balik sa Tamang Serbisyo (BTS) sa Kongreso.
Two hundred (200) new beneficiaries from all over the Philippines, including barangay health workers (BHWs), joined the 10K Ayuda program on Friday, September 10.
Of this number, 150 were selected in partnership with the city governments of Manila, Marikina, Muntinlupa, San Juan, and Mandaluyong, while 50 others were chosen during the previous Facebook livestream of the program.
Cayetano was joined by Taguig 2nd District Rep. Ma. Laarni “Lani” Cayetano, a staunch advocate of BHW welfare.
“Si Lani has really been working hard sa ating mga frontliners, lalo sa nutrition scholars, barangay tanods, at barangay health workers. From the start, y’un ang request niya sa akin, [dahil] ang mga barangay health workers in most areas around the country, dahil kapos o salat sa budget ang ating mga LGUs, ay allowance lang,” Cayetano said.
(Lani has been working hard for the frontliners, especially for the nutrition scholars, barangay tanods, and BHWs. From the start, she has been requesting a program for the BHWs because in most areas in the country, due lack of budget, they are only given allowance.)
“Hopefully, itong Sampung Libong Pag-asa (this program) can give some hope or some help to all of you,” he added.
Rep. Cayetano, on the other hand, said while they are only given allowance, the BHWs have contributed so much during the fight against COVID-19.
“Karamihan ng ating mga barangay health workers ay nananatili na allowance basis, pero hindi matatawaran ang mahalagang tulong nila sa ating mga doktor at sa ating mga nurses, lalo nung tumama sa atin ang pandemya,” she said.
(Most of our barangay health workers are on an allowance basis, but the work they do and the help they provide our doctors and nurses have been proven significant, especially when the pandemic hit us.)
Launched on May 1, the Sampung Libong Pag-Asa program gives P10,000 in financial assistance to select individuals affected by the pandemic.
Cayetano spearheaded the initiative in order to campaign for the inclusion of the P10,000 financial aid provision under the Bayanihan 3.
