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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Velasco, Cayetano floor controntation awaited as debates on Bayanihan 3 commence

Velasco, Cayetano floor controntation awaited as debates on Bayanihan 3 commence

Published May 23, 2021 07:25 pm

Half-a-year after a leadership clash divided the House of Representatives, the main actors involved in the controversy may face off anew as they defend opposing positions on the proposed P405.6 billion Bayanihan 3 law that is scheduled for plenary debates this week.

Speaker Lord Allan Velasco and staunch rival and critic, former Speaker and Taguig-Pateros Rep. Alan Peter Cayetano are seeking approval of their respective cash assistance recommendation in the Bayanihan 3 bill.

Velasco’s proposal calls for a P2,000 cash aid for each Filipino while Cayetano has been batting for P10,000 for each family.

Adding to the controversy is Cayetano’s insistence to convene the Lower House into a Committee of the Whole, saying this will pave the way for a faster disposition of the measure.

` Velasco and Cayetano have been engaged in what could be one of the longest House leadership struggle in the chamber that started before the opening of the 18th Congress and ended when the Taguig-Pateros congressman was ousted in November, 2020.

The rivalry, as indicated in the dissimilar Bayanihan 3 proposals, may not be over yet.

Plenary debates on the Bayanihan 3 bill is expected to start on Monday, May 24, as soon as the Committee on Economic Affairs finishes voting on the consolidated measure on the same day.

Cayetano, together with his allies, will pursue the approval of a P10,000 “additional cash assistance to every Filipino family” as part of the Bayanihan 3 provision.

Velasco’s group rejected the proposal.

Backers of the P2,000 cash aid said the proposal ensure “worry-free distribution” and could prevent graft.

Cayetano defended his Committee of the Whole recommendation as a way of ensuring faster and easier passage of the Bayanihan 3 bill.

“I don’t think it’s time to think about politics. We have to think about sa impact sa economic life nung mga tao. So, I’m hoping na makumbinse namin ang mga kasamahan (we hope wec ould convince our colleagues),” he told a press conference on Friday.

Cayetano noted that the Lower House has only two weeks of regular session left to pass the measure before the sine die adjournment of Congress.

The time constraints facing the chamber makes it necessary for the Lower House to resort to a Committee of the Whole.

Supporting Cayetano’s proposal are 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.

“It has to be equitable,” Velasco said, pointing out that giving a family of three and six same amounts of cash aid does not guarantee equity.

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