Pro-poor programs won't be used in 2025 polls, lawmakers say

The Manila Times

Pro-poor programs won't be used in 2025 polls, lawmakers say  Several lawmakers at the House of Representatives, in a press briefing on May 21, 2024, branded as 'unfair' allegations that Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program or AKAP and others targeted for the poor could be used for electioneering or vote buying for the 2025 Elections.    Video by Red Mendoza  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe   Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook   Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram   Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter   DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion     Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital     Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify   Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts   Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic   Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein  #themanilatimes  #philippines #elections

Transcript

00:00 Good morning, congressmen.

00:04 Mosvick asked my first question about the KSPGs.

00:09 Maybe this is my question.

00:12 Our aid program in ACAP was released.

00:19 Some say that this is an electioneering or a campaign for the 2025 elections.

00:31 What do you say to the claims that ACAP is an electioneering for 2025?

00:41 Maybe this is an excuse to the poor.

00:49 The middle class is suffering because they are given aid but the middle class is forgetting.

00:57 This is not the first time that the government is using aid for electioneering.

01:07 Why is it bad to give aid to people because the election is near?

01:17 If we don't give, we are wrong.

01:20 If we give, we are using it for election.

01:24 This is unfair.

01:26 ACAP is not the only agency that is giving aid.

01:31 Various government agencies have a lot of programs, especially this administration.

01:37 From CBOL to ECIP, BPSF, many touch on various sectors.

01:44 That's not single-handled.

01:47 It's not very unfair without proof that this is what is being used for electioneering.

01:56 It is simply a program of the government, this administration, which aims to help the vulnerable sector,

02:05 particularly those who are eligible to get the services and the aid that we call ACAP.

02:15 Let's not be unfair to say that.

02:19 If I may add, it would be better if the government is just giving aid for electioneering.

02:26 Electioneering is not helping the government.

02:29 It goes to show that this is not for electioneering, this is for helping the vulnerable.

02:34 In Tondo, Manila, when ACAP was launched a few days ago,

02:40 they felt the love of the government.

02:44 The sectors that ACAP targets are those that were not targeted before.

02:50 Why should we put negative connotations on the efforts of our government?

02:57 ACAP is embracing those that were not embraced before.

03:00 It's about time that we give credit where credit is due.

03:05 I am thankful to President BBM, especially to Speaker Martin Romualdez,

03:10 for spearheading such a program.

03:14 At least I can only speak for my district.

03:16 The 1st district of the city of Manila is very thankful to the President and to the Speaker

03:20 for giving us the sector because we were given our vendors.

03:26 Back then, they were told that they have someone who can help them,

03:29 and that they should not be helped, that it should be for the poor.

03:33 When we gave them the vendors, they were happy.

03:36 They added to their efforts.

03:38 In our small way, we were able to help them in their businesses.

03:43 Thank you President BBM and thank you Speaker Martin.

03:46 ... election meeting during election period, and the giving of social services,

03:52 even during election period, is allowed by the election laws,

03:57 once there is a certificate of exception.

04:00 I think it would be unfair and wrong to give a negative connotation

04:06 with this kind of aid.

04:08 This is social services.

04:10 This is for the people.

04:12 Of course, we should thank the administration because this happened just now.

04:21 The middle-income earners are targeted.

04:25 We have the Poor Peace Program.

04:27 The poorest of the poor receive aid.

04:30 We also have this program, this ACAP,

04:32 Ayuda Para sa Mga Kapos Ang Kita Program,

04:36 wherein the individuals who do not exceed P22,000 per month

04:44 is entitled to be a beneficiary and to receive this kind of social service.

04:49 So, I guess, let's not give this program a bad connotation

04:55 because this is a big help.

04:58 This is a nationwide social service approach

05:01 for those individuals who are middle-income earners.

05:04 Thank you.

05:06 One last question.

05:08 The dollar has already exceeded P58.00.

05:12 Of course, this is the lowest the Philippine peso has been since November 2022.

05:18 What is the reaction here?

05:20 For sure, there are many dollar-denominated buyers who will increase

05:26 because now the dollar is at P58.00.

05:29 But of course, OFWs will benefit from the higher remittance.

05:34 So, what is your opinion on the Philippine peso falling against the dollar?

05:40 For me, this has a big effect.

05:43 Remember that a significant portion of our national budget is through dollar loans.

05:53 And because these are dollar-denominated loans,

05:56 every peso that we lower has a big effect on our GDP.

06:05 And just like what was mentioned, I will just mention the assistance that is being given.

06:12 This is the solution.

06:14 The solution to mitigate the effect of inflation on vulnerable sectors.

06:26 That is why our national government is pushing and investing P26 billion

06:33 through Speaker Romualdez and BBM administration

06:36 to help these vulnerable sectors that might be affected by inflation.

06:42 And because the dollar rose, the peso decreased.

06:47 Every peso, if I'm not mistaken, has hundreds of billions of pesos effect on us

06:54 based on our dollar-denominated loans that the national government has acquired.

07:02 So, as much as possible, we encourage more dollar remittances from our OFW sector.

07:14 We have 12 million of them outside of the country, to 14 million.

07:19 So maybe their dollars that they remit back here would definitely help this economy keep afloat.

07:26 So, you know, it has an effect and it can also be mitigated.

07:34 [End of Audio]

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