Taguig-Pateros Representative and former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano questioned why Vice President Leni Robredo would want to wait until after the 2022 elections to extend her proposed P216-billion aid to Filipinos amid the pandemic.
Cayetano told DZRH that Robredo has enough allies in the Senate to make her plan – which she made as a campaign promise – happen.
"Nabasa ko po yung statement niya na sa first 100 days niya P216 billion as ayuda. May mga kakampi naman siya sa Senado, why wait for the first 100 days of the next admin?" Cayetano said.
(I read her statement that in her first 100 days that she was P216 billion as aid. She has allies in the Senate, why wait for the first 100 days of the next admin?)
According to the former House Speaker, her proposal could be done in the first 100 days next year since the money is already there.
"Let's do it in the first 100 days of 2022 because nandyan ang pera," he said.
(Let’s do it in the first 100 days of 2022 because the money is already there.)
"Kung idadagdag mo pa yan after the inauguration of the next president, dagdag na uutangin yan. Ngayon nandito na yung pera."
(If you wait until after the inauguration of the next president, then that will be another loan. The money is already here now.)
Robredo during the 47th Philippine Business Conference and Expo promised to allocate P216 billion of the government's funds for social aid to Filipinos who were hit hard by pandemic restrictions.
She promised to set aside the aid in her first 100 days if elected as president.
"We will set aside P216 billion in the national budget for ayuda distribution to protect families from hunger and provide them with their basic needs without being forced to go to work," she said in her speech.
