Taguig 2nd District Rep. Maria Laarni “Lani” Cayetano expressed support for the passage of a bill that would protect the security of tenure of barangay health workers (BHWs) and provide them with an increase in their allowance.
“Bilang kongresista, sinusuportahan namin itong isang batas na naglalayon na maprotektahan ‘yung security of tenure ng mga BHW at ‘yung pagtataas ng kanilang sweldo na napakahalaga talaga,” Cayetano said in a recent interview with a radio station in Bacolod City.
“‘Yun ay bahagi ng aming misyon sa Kongreso kasi hindi lahat ng mga LGU kayang magbigay ng job order status sa kanilang mga BHW,” she added.
Cayetano said while this has been achieved in Taguig City, other BHWs from all over the country should also be able to experience it.
“Gusto namin pangkalahatan kaya isang batas ang magbibigay-daan na maging posible ito, na ang lahat — buong Pilipinas — ay makaranas nitong pagpapahalaga sa mga BHW natin,” Cayetano said.
“Kasi sa barangay level, lalo na dito sa laban natin sa COVID, sila talaga ‘yung frontliners,” she said.
Meanwhile, Cayetano renewed the call for the passage of the proposed 10K Ayuda Bill.
“Sinusulong natin ang 10K Ayuda Bill kasi alam natin na ang stimulus package na ito ay hindi lamang tutugon sa mga basic need ng ating mga kababayan, kung hindi makakapagtabi pa sila ng magagamit nila kahit sa maliit na pampuhunan,” she said.
Cayetano said while she and former House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, along with their allies in Congress, have begun distributing P10,000 in cash assistance to selected beneficiaries, the funds used in these distributions are limited as these are pooled from the donations given by other members of Congress and donors who believe in the cause.
“Kaya ‘pag pinagtulungan ng Executive at ng Legislative branch ng ating gobyerno,” Cayetano said.