CEBU CITY -- BG Partylist 108 first nominee Alelee Aguilar-Andanar on Wednesday lauded the approval of the targeted Cash Transfer Program for poor Filipino households, who were affected by successive fuel price hikes.

Andanar thanked President Rodrigo Roa Duterte for the decision, noting that it was another proof for the administration’s genuine concern for the vulnerable sector in crisis.

“Dito natin makikita ang tunay na malasakit ng Pangulo sa lahat ng mga Pilipino. Batid niya na marami ang hindi pa nakakabangon sa pandemya at ngayon ay nahaharap naman sa krisis dulot ng Ukraine-Russia conflict,” she said.

She also called on public offices, including the local government units to speed the distribution of themuch needed assistance. She is hoping that candidates vying for public seats would also refrain from using it for their political agenda.

“Sa panahon ngayon, mahalaga ang bawat sentimo sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan. Kailangan nila ang tulong ng gobyerno para may pambili ng pagkain, pantustos sa tahanan at mga pag-aaral,” Andanar added.

The Philippines is among othe countries in the world affected by the fuel price hikes in the world market brought about by the ongoing Ukraine-Russia tension.

Earlier in March, the government’s Economic Development Cluster recommended the distribution of cash grants to the bottom 50 percent of all Filipino households, seeking to benefit around 12.4 million families or 74.7 million Filipinos nationwide.

Meanwhile, the partylist’s second nominee Atty. Mico Clavano vowed that BG Partylist 108 will push for a policy that will prepare Filipinos for a similar crisis in the future.

“Sa panahon ngayon, mahalagang magdamayan ang lahat, ang gobyerno at taumbayan. Kaya isang malaking tulong sa mga mahihirap nating kababayan ang targeted cash transfer program,” Clavano said.

“Kung kami ay papalarin sa Kongreso, isusulong namin ang panukalang maghahanda sa atin sa mga ganitong krisis para maging institutionalize ang pagbibigay ng ayuda,” he added. (BG)