Palace Denies Rejecting Cash Aid Proposal

MALACAÑANG on Monday denied Senator Alan Peter S. Cayetano’s claim that President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. had rejected his proposal to provide P10,000 in cash assistance to Filipino families, saying the measure never reached the President because it remained a legislative proposal. “If he has not done anything yet, it cannot be said that the President rejected anything,” Palace Press Officer Clarissa A. Castro said in Filipino. She said the proposal was introduced while Mr. Cayetano was still a congressman and failed to advance in Congress before Mr. Marcos assumed office in 2022. She added that the measure would have required approval from both chambers before it could be implemented. The Palace also said the proposal was not included in the 2022 national budget, which had been prepared before Mr. Marcos became President. Mr. Cayetano earlier argued that the government could have afforded the proposed cash assistance. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking