Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano is looking to convene the Committee of the Whole next week to review provisions of the Bayanihan 3 as well as the proposed insertion of the additional P10,000 cash assistance to Filipino families.
In a press conference on Friday, Cayetano said they will be asking the House leadership to allow the Committee of the Whole to come together to discuss the proposed 10k Ayuda Bill and Bayanihan 3.
Cayetano said it wasn’t about politics and that the government must think about the impact of the virus in the economic life of the people.
“Remember: we only have two more weeks. Para umabot ito, kailangan next mag-Committee of the Whole na kami. Kaming grupo ng BTS sa Kongreso, willing kami magbabad ulit katulad ng Bayanihan 1 and 2,” he said, referring to the Balik sa Tamang Serbisyo (BTS) movement in Congress.
The BTS movement in Congress consists of Cayetano, Camarines Sur 2nd District Luis Raymund “Lray” Villafuerte, Batangas 2nd District Rep. Raneo Abu, Laguna 1st District Rep. Dan Fernandez, Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio “Kuya” Sy-Alvarado, and ANAKALUSUGAN Partylist Rep. Michael Defensor.
Cayetano added that BTS movement not meeting would lengthen the deliberation process and would delay the passage of the bill.
“Pero kung ito na naman mangyayari na apat na committee, etc.–tatagal tayo. Medyo mabigat. Even sa Bayanihan 1 and 2, napakarami gusto magsalita pero nagbigayan kami lahat para lang maipasa,” Cayetano said.
The former speaker said that their continuous push for the insertion of the P10,000 cash aid provision has more impact and is more practical.
“Mas may impact sa buhay ng tao ‘yung P10,000 per family because sapat ito na magbayad ng tubig, kuryente, [at] konting pagkain. Pero kung mga kalahati ng 10k, pwedeng ipangnegosyo,” he said.
“I’d like to clarify [that] we are not against Bayanihan 3. Pabor kami sa Bayanihan 3. In fact, naliliitan kami sa pondong ‘yun. But napakaimportante sa amin na ‘yung unang bigay is ‘yung sa tao na direkta. Kasi kahit anong tulong mo sa negosyo, kung ang tao ay walang pera, wala ring customer ‘yung mga negosyo,” he added. –with reports from Daniel Manalastas/PG/rir
