Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday welcomed the Marcos administration’s expanded cash assistance program but said financial aid should not come at the expense of accountability for how public funds are spent.
In an online broadcast on July 17, 2026, the minority leader said the latest cash assistance announcements prompted him to revisit his earlier proposal to provide P10,000 in direct financial assistance which he had pushed after the COVID-19 pandemic. He later advocated for targeted assistance to vulnerable sectors, arguing that similar support could have been provided years ago.
“Ako po [ay] natutuwa pagka’t mayroong tulong sa ating mga kababayan at napakaraming mga programang nag-i-improve at gumaganda. Pero sa mga announcement ng ating mahal na Pangulo, ang daming nagte-text sa akin, ‘Sen. Alan, tama ka pala.’ ‘Kuya Alan, kaya pala y’ung 10K,’ ‘Bakit ngayon lang 2026?’” he said.
His remarks came a day after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced the P12.375-billion United Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (UPLIFT) program, which will provide up to P12,000 in financial assistance to more than 7.5 million poor and low-income households affected by rising oil prices brought about by the renewed conflict in the Middle East.
Ensure accountability
Cayetano said government spending is essential to economic activity and that timely release of public funds helps keep the economy moving.
But while he supports cash assistance, he said the government must also ensure public funds are properly managed.
“Ang government spending ay napaka-importante. Kung hindi nare-release y’ung pera, hindi iikot sa ating bayan ang pera [at] sa ating ekonomiya, ” he said.
“Tapos [mag] a-announce ka ng ayuda, which is maganda. Pero nanakaw na y’ung malaking halaga [para sa ayuda,] and then mangungutang ka ng malaki,” he added.
Cayetano said financial assistance should be accompanied by efforts to ensure accountability and equal application of the law.
“We will navigate all of this, we have to do it together. Hindi pwedeng nakaw [ang pera] and then walang huhulihin or y’ung huhulihin, (taga) opposition lang whether totoong may ginawa o hindi, and then tapon-tapon ka lang ng ayuda,” he said.
Remain hopeful
Cayetrano said the government can pursue economic recovery while carrying out other national priorities, including the impeachment proceedings, the flood control investigation, and reforms.
“You can manage the economy well, you can regain the trust of the people, you can have the impeachment, you can have the flood control investigation, and you can have the reforms. We can find a way na gawin lahat ito at magkaisa kung gusto,” he said.
Cayetano encouraged Filipinos, particularly Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs), to remain hopeful and continue participating in public discourse.
“May solusyon parati yan, may reform yan. We’re at a crossroads so we have to help each other,” he said.
“Huwag po tayong mawawalan ng pag-asa. Sa mahal nating mga OFWs, ituloy niyo po na bigyan ng pag-asa ang inyong mga pamilya, ang ating mga kababayan. Maging active po tayo sa pagko-comment, sa pag-i-inform,” he said.