Sharing the desire of her brother Senator Alan Peter Cayetano to help pandemic-hit families across the country, Senator Pia Cayetano on Friday distributed P10,000 in cash aid each to 10 women in Dipolog City in Zamboanga del Norte.
The latest beneficiaries of the Sampung Libong Pag-asa initiative were women utility workers, vegetable vendors, fruit vendors, a food server, a security guard, a student, and a candle vendor.
“Pinagdasal po namin talaga kung sino ang talagang mangangailangan nito, so happy ako na kayo ang nandito, and nagtitiwala kami na alam niyo na kung ano ang kailangan niyo,” Senator Pia told the women.
Acknowledging that the beneficiaries have differing needs, Senator Pia said she is putting her trust in the women to make use of the P10,000 in cash aid as they see fit, as long as they do not spend all of it on one-time expenses.
“Kanya-kanya tayo ng pangangailangan, ‘di ba? May nagnenegosyo, may mag-uumpisa pa lang mag-negosyo, o baka nangangarap pa lang. Kayo na ang bahala bilang mga nanay,” she told the women.
Senator Pia emphasized that the P10,000 in cash assistance is not meant to be just “pamparaos” or something to get by with.
“Kaya 10K ‘yan kasi gusto namin talaga na malalim talaga ang effect nito sa buhay niyo,” she said.
“So d’un sa mga may kaunting negosyo, baka mapalaki nila y’ung negosyo nila, or ‘di kaya medyo nagsa-struggle y’ung business dahil sa hirap ng panahon, o kaya nga d’un sa mga pangangailangan, ‘tsaka syempre din sa pagbabalik-pasukan ng mga bata,” she added.
Senator Pia Cayetano went to Zamboanga del Norte to visit Dipolog City, which she said she has considered her “happy place” for 10 years now.
“N’ung naghiwalay kami ni Alan noong Miyerkules ng gabi, sabi niya, ‘Ate, pagpunta mo sa Dipolog mag-10K ayuda naman tayo doon.’ So sabi ko, ‘Syempre!” she said.
The Sampung Libong Pag-asa program was launched on May 1, 2021 as a way to push for the passage of the 10K Ayuda Bill filed by then-Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano in the House of Representatives. The proposed cash aid, however, was not approved by the House.
After winning a seat in the Senate, Senator Alan filed the 10K Ayuda Bill, along with the relaunch of the Sampung Libong Pag-asa program to help a number of families and to encourage his fellow lawmakers to act on his proposal this time.
Citing the various problems many Filipino families are suffering from today such as online gambling addiction among family members, Senator Pia Cayetano in Friday’s Sampung Libong Pag-asa livestream also encouraged the women to support one another.
“Magtulong-tulong tayo, baka y’ung kapitbahay niyo, kapatid niyo, pinsan niyo ay may gan’ung problema,” she told them.
