FORMER House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano urged the government on March 17 to act swiftly on implementing the vaccination rollout program and social welfare measures to help Filipinos amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Cayetano said standard protocols such as handwashing and physical distancing are not enough to counter the virus's spread.

Cayetano made the statement after Octa-Research, an independent research group, said daily new infections could reach 20,000 by April.

The Department of Health (DOH) had reported 5,404 new cases last Monday, March 15, the highest daily tally of cases since August last year.

“One year na since the lockdown and siguro ay natuto tayong maging mas madasalin. Having said that, the government should not only be responsible, dapat ay hindi sila balat-sibuyas kasi ang government dapat accountable sa tao,” he said.

Cayetano also stressed that there should be no VIPs in the vaccination, especially since many local government units are still worried that they might not be given or might not be able to afford the vaccines.

The lawmaker said the government has the responsibility to uplift the lives of those gravely affected by the pandemic through decisive and resolute action.

Cayetano also made a push for the 10K Ayuda Bill which he and his allies filed on February 1.

“Kung titignan mo lahat no, maraming not in our control, katulad nung bagong variation. Pero 'yung pananalapi ng ating bansa, at 'yung kalagayan ng ating kababayan, we are not only responsible for that, we are in a position to help dahil may pera naman ang gobyerno. So itong P10,000 kada pamilya ay itinutulak namin at hinihingi namin sa Kongreso na aksyunan na ito,” he said.

The 10K Ayuda Bill (House Bill 5897) aims to provide Filipino families, especially the poorest of the poor, with P10,000 in cash aid that would help them through the pandemic while the country waits for the full implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination plan.

The Committee on Social Services, however, has yet to tackle the proposed measure. (PR)