Cayetano appeals to Velasco to consider bill seeking additional cash aid for COVID-hit families

Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Thursday appealed to House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco to consider the proposed measure that they filed, which seeks to provide cash assistance to families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

At a press conference in Taguig City, Cayetano said helping Filipinos to recover from the pandemic should be prioritized instead of talking about the proposal to amend the economic provisions of the 1987 Constitution.

"Kami'y nakikiusap sa Kongreso na bago natin pagusapan 'yung Cha-cha, bago natin i-rush 'yan, divisive 'yan, maganda man ang ibang ideas, ang kailangan ng tao talaga 'yung dagdag na pera sa kanilang bulsa," Cayetano said.

Cayetano and his allies had filed House Bill 8597, which seeks to create the Bangon Pamilyang Pilipino (BPP) Assistance Program that will provide beneficiaries with P1,500 cash assistance per family member or P10,000 per household, whichever is higher.

The former speaker is hoping that the bill would be given importance under Velasco's leadership, noting that politics should be set aside. He even said they are open if the Velasco camp would co-author the proposed measure.

"Sana po regardless kung sino nagpropose, bigyan ng equal pagpapahalaga ng bagong leadership. Tanda niyo po noong time namin, wala kaming pakialam kung sino ang nag-propose, oposisyon o administrasyon, minority o majority, basta't maganda ang proposal, we give it to the COVID committee and niraratsada namin 'yan," Cayetano said.

"Sana nga we will have the support din despite the fact na kami ang nag-propose nito. Kung gusto nilang burahin pangalan namin, lagay pangalan nila para lang mapabilis 'yung proposal noon, papayag naman kami," Cayetano added.

He added that the bill could be funded.

"Basically, gusto lang naming i-emphasize na sa bill puwede pong kunin through loans or puwede din pong i-amend sa committee hearing na kunin sa savings ng 2020 budget or puwede din po katulad ng ginawa sa Bayanihan 1, 'yung ibang di importante sa 2021 budget," he said.

"As I said, marami kaming ipapasok na sa Bayanihan 3 sana saka 'yung nandito sana sa 10,000 ayuda, hindi pinasok sa 2021 budget kasi nagfocus sila na magdagdag ng pondo sa ilang mga distrito. Ang pino-point-out namin nandiyan 'yung pera..." he added.

Priority beneficiaries of the program are senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, displaced workers, medical frontliners, families of overseas Filipino workers, individuals who were not able to receive assistance through the Social Amelioration Program, Philippine National ID holders, and members of vulnerable groups.

Other authors of the measure are Taguig Representative Lani Cayetano, Camarines Sur Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Jr., Batangas Representative Raneo Abu, Laguna Representative Dan Fernandez, Bulacan Representative Jonathan Sy-Alvarado, and Anakalusugan party-list Representative Mike Defensor. — BM, GMA News