Cayetano starts handing out P1OK ayuda to poor Filipinos
FORMER Speaker Taguig-Pateros Representative Alan Peter CAyetano and his his allies in the House of Representatives started giving out P10,000 cash aid to poorest Filipinos.
Cayetano’s entourage visited a barangay in Sta. Rosa, Laguna to give out financial aid to the needy under the “Sampung Libong Pag-asa” initiative.
Cayetano and other lawmakers have filed P10K Ayuda Bill which aims to provide assistance to the Filipinos during this pandemic brought by the COVID-19 pandemic
“Hindi dole-out itong ibinibigay natin. We researched kung sino ang mapagbibigyan — very productive people, masisipag itong mga ito, tinamaan lang ng COVID,” Cayetano said.
The beneficiaries came from 14 different areas in Laguna, all of whom either lost their jobs or were forced to take on elementary occupations due to the pandemic.
One of the beneficiaries is, Orolito Brucal, who even before the pandemic was barely making a living selling soft brooms.
In his story, Brucal said: “Minsan kakahig ka, hindi ka naman tutuka. Naaawa ako sa sarili ko. Hindi ko malaman ang gagawin ko. Pilay ako, pilay ang asawa ko. Ako lang naman ang nagta-trabaho para sa amin,”
Now, with the restrictions brought about by the health crisis, life has become even worse, according to Brucal adding that he had to swallow his pride and accept donations just to survive the current crisis.
The “Sampung Libong Pag-Asa” was launched on May 1, with more than 200 Filipinos from all over the country receiving P10,000 in cash assistance raised by Cayetano and his fellow members of the Balik sa Tamang Serbisyo (BTS) sa Kongreso movement.
The group had filed the 10K Ayuda Bill in February in a bid to allot P10,000 in direct stimulus per family or P1,500 per family member, whichever is higher.
The bill was considered during the joint hearing conducted by the Committees on Social Services and Economic Affairs on Bayanihan 3 but the 10k provision was not adopted.
“Let’s learn from Bayanihan 1 and 2. Bayanihan 1 and 2 were not perfect, but we learned. The more times you make them fall in line, the harder it is for the mayors, the barangay officials, and the police — it’s chaotic,” he added.
Last May 21, the Committee on Appropriations approved the Bayanihan 3.
A total of P216 billion was allotted for the cash assistance provision.
However, instead of P10,000 per family, the Committees are pushing for only P1,000 per individual.
