A congresswoman on Thursday called on the national and local governments to provide financial assistance to micro-entrepreneurs as the cost of basic necessities spiraled due to the runaway prices of gasoline.
Taguig City Rep. Lani Cayetano said oil subsidies must be accompanied by financial support to small businesses especially since the country is “still in the process of recovery.”
“We have not yet recovered. We are still in the process of recovery, and yet here we are, facing another problem with the increasing prices of oil and basic commodities,” Cayetano said.
She said the government must act now that private initiatives of politicians to provide direct cash aid to Filipinos are halted in compliance with the rules of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).
“The government, especially the departments, has the power to help our micro-entrepreneurs. So hopefully, from the national to the local, we will continue to help our micro-entrepreneurs because many more have lost their jobs,” Cayetano said.
She said this is why her husband, former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, “never gave up” on pushing for the 10K Ayuda bill in Congress.
“Women’s abilities are not limited only in the home. Not only can women be good wives and caring mothers… [with] the talents the Lord has given us, we can also use them to serve our communities,” Cayetano said, greeting fellow Filipino women in celebration of International Women’s Month.
“I hope the talent given to us will be used by women to show their talent in the field of music and the arts – we have many famous musicians and women artists,” she added.
Cayetano said women’s talents can be seen in all fields, including sports, government, and NGOs.
“We have seen the excellence of women in the field of sports. In fact, the first gold medal to come home to the Philippines was brought by a woman [pertaining to Olympic gold medalist Hidilyn Diaz]. And in the field of public service, whether it is the government or a non-governmental organization, being a woman, we can use our caring hearts to serve our communities,” Cayetano, wife of senatorial aspirant and former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, said.