The House of Representatives Committee on Social Services has finally decided to act on former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano’s 10K Ayuda Bill after mounting pressure from various sectors.
In a media statement on Thursday, committee chairman and Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said the bill would be referred to the Committee on Economic Affairs and be read in plenary by Thursday March 25.
Vargas says when the bill was referred to his committee, the plenary had already finished discussing the extension of Bayanihan 2 while Bayanihan 3 was already being discussed by the economic affairs committee.
“I suggested the consolidation of this bill with similar measures and its referral to economic affairs. This is more practical since all these bills have similar legislative intent. By doing so, we can facilitate congressional action on these bills. We will take them all up in a single session,” he said.
Vargas’ statement came as Cayetano and his allies appealed to the House leadership to prioritize the bill’s passage and as other officials, including Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, joined the call.
Filed by Cayetano, Taguig Rep. Lani Cayetano and their allies in the House of Representatives on February 1, 2021, the 10K Ayuda Bill seeks to give each Filipino family P10,000 or P1,500 per family member, whichever is higher, that they can use for their daily needs or to start their own businesses as the country waits for the full roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccination program.
On Monday, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the government will not provide financial aid to families residing in the so-called NCR Plus bubble as businesses will not be shuttered and work will continue despite the imposition of stricter measures, such as travel restrictions and limited operation of establishments until April 4.
“There will be no more cash aid because businesses are open. Anyone can go to work,” Roque said.
He said the more stringent 14-day General Community Quarantine in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan and Rizal did not necessitate the distribution of “ayuda” under the government’s Social Amelioration Program.