ALAN PETER "COMPAÑERO" S. CAYETANO

Good afternoon Mr. Senate President, my dear colleagues, Mr. Vice Chairperson.

Sabi po sa bibliya, kung anong ating itatanim, yan din ang ating aanihin. We live in a country, nasa isang bansa po tayo na kung saan tayo pinanganak at kanino tayo pinanganak, ang malamang mag determine ng ating buhay. So, if you were born to a very powerful and rich family, malamang you will have the best education, the best health services, you will have all opportunities. Pag may assignment ka you can interview Secretaries, members of Congress, Senators, Ambassadors, but even if you were born to a well to do family, kung hindi ka sa malalaking siyudad, kung medyo sulok-sulukan ka ng Pilipinas pinanganak,  at kahit na medyo makapangyarihan ang pamilya mo doon, kung ang peace and order situation d’un ay hindi masyadong maganda, maaaring bala, bullets instead of books ang nasa kamay ng iyong mga anak. 

So, I mentioned this, Mr. Senate President, because after listening to the qualifications, the experience of our nominee, everyone is convinced  that she is the right person for the job. But sitting here and discerning about our future, you know, first I’d like to again pay tribute to Prime Minister Abe. During the time that the Philippines and the U.S. had a rocky relationship in the Duterte administration, the Japanese stood up, stepped up. Prime Minister Abe played the role of bridging, which was the exact opposite of World War II where the U. S. and the Philippines were the close allies and our enemies were the Japanese and I’ll go back to that later.

Exact opposite din nung Commonwealth, but the Philippines was said to be one of the best positioned countries. Second lang tayo sa Japan nung 1960s pero ang Japan after the atomic bombs ay dapang dapa. So I’d also like to pay tribute to Ambassador Laurel. He did an incredible job. If there’s one person that I think could do the same or even better it’s, of course, our nominee here today.  She’s the perfect person for the job. But,  Ambassador Laurel did an extraordinary job, you know, of building those bridges, strengthening those bridges.

Kung titingnan n’yo po napaka-importante p’ung post and, let me speak as a former Secretary of the Foreign Affairs Department, lahat po kasi nasa Japan eh. ‘Yung ating historical ties, sabi natin christian nation tayo eh paano tayo magiging christian nation if we cannot love our enemies. So, from a very bitter past, I remember, the Senate President is my batchmate, if we talk to our grandparents about the Japanese or tell them na magpapartner ka, talagang babatukan ka, pagsasasabihan ka because ‘yung atrocities n’ung time na yon, ‘yung horrors of the war of the death march di ba, of what was done to Filipinos and, of course, to Filipinas during that time. But over the years we found our way to love our enemies and the Japanese have found their way to go beyond reparations and if you look at the economic, for example, side, you go to the airport - Japanese-aid financing and technology. You go to our trains, karamihan niyan Japanese pa rin. You talk about different kinds of technologies from agriculture to manufacturing and everything, Japanese pa rin yan. But if you look at our OFWs from the 80’s, na grumaduate na tayo doon sa mga problematic areas katulad nung japayuki era, ngayon makikita mo mga premium ang mga trabaho sa Japan even po doon sa agriculture. Mahirap na trabaho pero ang turing sa mga Pilipinong nand’un parang mga anak. Pagdating sa security, although sa constitution ng Japan, di ba may limitations sila, but from the equipment of our coastguards, to training, lahat po ng p’wedeng gawin lalo po sa ating mga maritime issues and problems, and challenges ngayon, even sa sharing ng intelligence po nand’yan sila.   Pagdating po -- taga Mindanao ang ating Senate President and many of our Members here, the Japanese have always been involved in peace and  development in Mindanao, in areas that were very contentious. 

So,  my  point  is,  Mr. President, kung gusto nating baguhin ang Pilipinas, the friendship of Japan and the Philippines is very important. The model of Japan na dapang-dapa after the war but within 30 years  with one generation,  one of the strongest economies in the world. Makikita mo po sa atin, n’ung nag-announce ng educational assistance, grabe po ang tulakan, grabe po ang pila, grabe po ang banatan sa social media n’ung nag-announce ang DSWD ng assistance.  Sa Japan, makikita mo, nagka-tsunami na, nasusunog na ‘yung bahay, sugatan na, nakapila pa rin ‘yung mga tao at may disiplina pa rin. 

I won’t go into ROTC, that's a different issue at napakaraming mga Heneral na nasa likod ko, but, ang point ko po, is that, the relationship of Japan and the Philippines can be a roadmap – the histories of the two countries, ‘no.  So, for me today, it’s also a roadmap because I started out with a relationship as a brother kay Governor Albano, then, he turned out as an enemy for a few months.  But, through his wife, we are now friends again, and hopefully on the road to recovery. 

I will not disagree with the Vice-Chairperson out of parliamentary courtesy and inter parliamentary courtesy, when he called the Governor brutally handsome.  I will just say that beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

But, having said that, my father, Sen. Rene “Compañero” Cayetano, has always found beauty in diligence, hard work, creativity,   ang panahon nila eh panahon ng pagsusunog ng kilay.  Hindi pa uso no’n lahat ng mabilis.  Hindi pa uso no’n ‘yung microwave, instant, instant messaging and everything.  And, Ambassador Mylene – my father was always proud of her.  And if he was here today as a Senator, I’m sure he would say that he’s proud of you, Ambassador to be - Albano.

So, in behalf of the Minority, we also endorse her confirmation.  

Thank you, Mr. Senate President and Mr. Chair.

Mr. Chair, on the part of the Minority, may I just repeat the line I said in the hearing that she is a woman in a predominantly male Cabinet.  She is a Muslim in a predominantly Catholic and Christian nation.  She is no stranger in being a minority.  She doesn’t only have a strong voice now, but she has a big voice sa budget.  So, we are hoping that many of those who are voiceless and minority in the Philippines will have a voice in the Cabinet.  So, on behalf of the Minority, we have no objection and we wish her well. 

Mr. President, Mr. Chair, and dear colleagues, the Book of Matthew talks about – when the Son of Man comes, and all the nations are gathered in front of Him, He will be like a shepherd who separates the goats and the sheep.  And while separating the goats and the sheeps, the Lord told them, when I was hungry, you fed me, when I was thirsty, you gave me drink, when I was alone, you kept me company.  When I was in jail, you visited me.  When I was naked, you clothed me, and when I was sick, you looked after me.  And, the people asked him, Lord, Lord, when were you hungry?  And when did we feed you?  When were you in jail?  When were you sick?  At ang sagot po sa kanila ng ating Panginoong Hesukristo ay “k’pag itong pinakamaliit sa ating lipunan ay gutom, Ako ang pinakain ninyo pag-pinakain ninyo siya”.  “‘Pag siya ay uhaw o nakakulong, pagka siya po ay may sakit at inasikaso ninyo, Ako ang inasikaso ninyo”. 

 So despite coming from the Minority, I would also like to second and endorse the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Secretary Rex for three (3) reasons:  First, ‘yun pong binasa ko po sa Matthew dahil sa kanyang pagmamahal sa Panginoon at sa kanyang takot sa Panginoon ay isinabuhay po niya, to feed people, to help those who are sick.  Ah, to help those who are needy.  So now he is given a bigger task of doing that not only to his community, to his barangay, to his city, to people, ah, who exposes him to their community, but ngayon buong Pilipinas na including 10 million OFWs who are abroad, especially ‘yung babalik po dito na mga mangangailangan ng takbuhan na isang DSWD sa pamumuno at pagsisilbi po ng isang Rex Gatchalian;   Secondly po, I’m supporting him because of values.  ‘Yung value po of giving everyone equal opportunity.  Marami pong mga kahanga-hanga po sa kanilang siyudad, pero ang isa ko pong babanggitin ngayon ay ‘yung desire po nila -- nilang magkakapatid ni Sen Win at Mayor Wes, at ni Rex na mabigyan ng equal opportunity ang bawat isa.  That’s why hindi pa gawa ‘yung subway, tuloy-tuloy pa ang pag-gagawa ng mga train, pero meron na po silang academy sa Valenzuela para po ‘yung mga magiging engineers at mga mag-aayos ng train ay tini-train. Bakit po?  Because he wants to give them a future.  He wants to give them opportunity; and, third, is related to the second which is hard work ah, similarity between Taguig City po at ang Valenzuela at pasensya na po du’n sa iba ang paniniwala, ah, we do not accept any form of gambling, na si Rex ay pinaikot-ikotan pero hindi napaikutan.  Kung anu-ano ang dahilan na sinasabi na kailangan ng gambling, whether legal o illegal, pero he persevered and he explained to people that games of chance, itong mga swerte-swerte, itong mga taya tayo dito, taya tayo d’yan, does not promote healthy values of hard work and also it crosses the red lines sa ating mga law enforcers.   I mentioned that, Secretary Rex, maybe in your own way now through the DSWD, kasi bumabalik eh, lumalakas na naman ang jueteng, baka dahil hirap ang tao or dahil may nagte-take ng opportunity.  So hindi lang po ang mga drug syndicates ang coming back with a vengeance, it’s also the illegal gambling -- so because of those three (3) reasons po, ‘yung pagmamahal at takot niya sa Diyos, y’ung pagmamahal niya ng value ng equal opportunity at ‘yung hard work, and anti-gambling po, I support him.  The Minority gives their full support.  

Having said that, po, trabaho din namin sa Minority na i-challenge ang mga Secretary na ‘to, and I’d like to thank Secretary Rex, hindi namin masasabi lahat dito sa pinag-uusapan, very comprehensive. 

I admire the way he approaches everything but let me just mention a couple of things, Secretary, for the record, Mr. President -- first of all, may I ask, Senate President, the Chairperson, the permission just to show two (2) pics slides then a video  -- that’s less than two (2) minutes and thirty (30) seconds, ‘no.  

So, can you show the first slide – 

[At this juncture, Senator Cayetano was presenting two (2) pics slide on the screen]

If you look at the budget of the DSWD, in the first year of President Arroyo, it was 1.1 billion.  Imaginin ninyo po 1.1 billion.  By the end of her term, it was 10 billion.  By the start of President Pinoy, it was 15 billion.  By the end of his term going into -- ah, President Duterte, it was between 108 and 110 billion.  By the end of the term of President Duterte, or in 2021, it was 176 billion and then in 2022, one -- 204 billion and now it’s more or less 200 billion or 199 billion pesos.  So the first point I want to make and challenge ‘yung ating mga kapatid sa DSWD, sa laki na ng pondo at dami na ng inyong programa, katulad ng 4Ps, sana po hindi makalimutan ‘yung pinaka-vulnerable.  Binanggit na po ni Senator Legarda, at advocacy po nila ‘yan na kasama po ‘yung ibang kababaihan sa Senate like, of course, Sen. Grace Poe, Senator Nancy, Senator Pia, Senator Risa, ‘yun pong Violence Against Women and Children, but may I also mention po ‘yung mga naulila, ‘yung mga na-abandon na bata and, of course, ‘yung mga na-abandon na walang mag-aalaga na mga matatanda.  I’d notice that because we have a mega project of a hundred billion pesos for 4Ps.  We have 30 billion for AICS.  Minsan ‘yung mga pinaka-simple na pagkalinga sa mga pinaka-vulnerable ay medyo naiiwanan o hindi nakikita.  I must admit, ‘no, lumaki ‘yung pondo pero hindi naman lumaki ang sueldo ng mga taga-DSWD at kulang na kulang.  I think, Senator Pia discussed with him na kulang na kulang ng social workers -- let me clarify that maraming sosyal na worker sa gobyerno pero kulang ng social workers and that’s something that Secretary Rex is already working on.  I think minention na niya na magkakaroon pati ng academy.  And, I’d like to mention that na hindi sapat that we wish him well.  We all have to be social workers and I’ll show you why -- can you show the video -- the first two (2) -- that jeepney driver and a tricycle driver  during the pandemic po ito.  

[At this juncture, Senator Cayetano was presenting video clips on the screen]

Let me start, Mr. President, with Nanay Felisa, ‘yung huli po -- she was our guest last Friday sa Cayetano In Action with Boy Abunda, sumulat po ‘yung kapitbahay niya because she has a son na iniwan ‘ng asawa so medyo nagkaroon ng depression and then mental health problems.  So, medyo wala sa sarili at minsan sinisipa ‘yung mga bata sa community or bigla na lang maninigaw or siguro minsan hindi rin niya alam ‘yung sariling gutom.  So, pag gutom, in the middle of the night nagsisigaw.  And the neighbors explained and were crying, dahil mahal nila si Nanay Felisa at in fact, tinutulungan nila si Nanay Felisa.  But this is the amazing thing, ‘no, Nanay Felisa is seventy-two (72) years old.  She lives in a Barangay at San Mateo, ah, greater Metro Manila na po ‘yon, hindi Metro Manila, nasa Rizal, pero greater Metro Manila.  Bumababa lang po sila at a certain church.  From the church to their barangay, they have to walk 1-2 hours and at 5:00 o’clock after crossing the bridge sa isang ilog, wala ng kuryente.  So, si Nanay Felisa would go to the farmlands there, kumukuha ng gulay, kung me mauutang, maglalakad ng dalawang (2) oras papunta sa bayan and then maglalakad pauwi, and so walang magbabantay sa forty (40) years old na anak niya na may mental health problem.   N’ung lumapit daw sila sa barangay, ang sinabi nga niya mahirap din daw ’yung barangay, and they did not hear about AICS, hindi nila alam ito,  actually malasakit ito n’ung kapitbahay.  

So, this is my point, I hope isa lang ang Nanay Felisa sa Pilipinas.  But it’s possible na maraming Nanay Felisa na hindi lang walang access sa ayuda, sa anong departamentong ‘to, o hindi man lang nila alam na may ganun.  So, I’d like to request three (3) things from Secretary Rex: 1) Together with other agencies, a massive information campaign para people who are desperate, like Nanay Felisa, -- minsan kasi meron ‘yung hingi ng hingi na meron naman, ’yun lang mga nakakaalam ng programa, ‘yung mga tambay sa City Hall na professional na nanghihingi na buwan-buwan binibinyagan yung anak nila, di ba?  May mga ganyan minsan, na mahirap pero hindi sobrang hirap na talagang ginawa na nilang style ‘yung panghihingi sa iba’t-ibang pulitiko.  Pero merong mga katulad ni Nanay Felisa, living quietly, following the laws pero walang alam na ibang oportunidad.

Secondly, may I commend him and say that even during the time that I have the opportunity  to serve as a Speaker, we were pushing already the 10k ayuda na two (2) gives -- ‘yung Bayanihan One, we were pushing na magkaroon na ng app, kung sana magkaroon kahit lang testing ‘yung iba’t-ibang departamento, kasi nga we can.  Sa app, basta’t meron kang apo o anak o teenager na marunong mag-cellphone, mas madaling makapag apply.  I know it won’t be that easy to do it nationwide right away but ‘yan po ‘yung future, online, ano.  And, on Monday we have a hearing about  e-governance and about ‘yung coverage, and I heard Secretary Rex is pushing this, ‘no, na magkaroon ng app ‘yung DSWD.  So, Sir, whatever you need, your friends in Congress and Senate are here.   Whatever we need para to get it done.  I think that will really be a real bonanza. 

And then, thirdly; I don’t know who you want to tap but I do know that you are a very experienced and seasoned public servant.  So, whether it’s the local government, we should really --  kung meron na AICS, every four years na ba ngayon?  Every four years, no.  Tapos hindi ko alam kung ‘yung census every – ilang years ba?   Alam mo ‘yung house to house talaga para malaman mo, makita kung sino ‘yung pinaka desperado.  Kumbaga, sa mga highly urbanized, kung sino ‘yung mga nasa silong na lang, tapos hindi lumalabas.  We saw some of them during the pandemic na  ni walang pambili ng mask.  Kaya hindi na lang umaalis sa silong,  na   nakisilong   na  lang sa bahay.  Kasi sila  ‘yung   pinaka-vulnerable  at  sila 

‘yung ni walang means na  lumapit.     

So, it will be a challenge, but I know you are up to the challenges.   So, let me leave it at that.

And then, let me just take up one last point.  And we discussed it with him and very much aware si Secretary dito.  Can you show the slide?  

[At this juncture, Senator Cayetano was presenting another slide on the screen]

Kumuha kami ng konting datos sa UNICEF.  And I'd like to thank Dr. Alvin Ang also, ng Ateneo School of Economics, for pointing out ‘yung stunting', and asked in our conference ng transformation, transforming the nation, decipling the nation, transforming the nation, he pointed out that a third of Filipinos are stunted or short for their age.  And he pointed out ‘yung stunting’ after two (2) years of age can be permanent, irreversible and even fatal.  So, according to UNICEF, 95 children in the Philippines die of malnutrition, 27 out of 100 Filipino people do not get past their fifth birthday.  So, I’d just like to pose a simple question, alam kong pang-budget hearing ‘to, alam kong natanong na rin si Secretary Rex sa kanya at malamang tanungin ng ating Pangulo sa kanya sa gabinete that if the 4Ps na mahigit isang daang bilyon is meant for that na may makain ang mga bata, para hindi sila maging malnourished.  And if the 4Ps takes care of the poorest of the poor, bakit one third of Filipinos ang stunted pa rin?  So, nasaan ‘yung disjoint between the policy, the money and  implementation.  Kulang ba ‘yung pang 4Ps natin, are there many, many more poor parents than we know?  May kakulangan din ba sila sa knowledge kung anong ipang-bibili nila sa nakukuha nilang two, three, four thousand a month in terms nutrition.  So, parang may disjoint ng having almost two hundred billion pesos, half of that going to 4Ps  na supposedly ‘yung first need ng bata, makakain - hindi pumunta sa school na gutom.  And then, one third are stunted.  So, Rex told me, even before I mentioned it, he will look into that for solutions.  But again, Rex, kasama n’ung challenge ‘yung offer ng lahat ng allies mo, Senado at Kongreso and, of course, alam kong you have the support of the President, the Cabinet.    Point us in the right way, help us craft the laws and the policies to make sure, kasi imagine, Mr. President, lahat ng maganda na nakikita ninyo ngayon sa Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao, lahat ng libreng edukasyon, lahat ng bagong trabaho, investments, pero kung stunted  ‘yung one third of our population, can you imagine that?  We have to -- the opportunities na mawawala sa one third na ito, parang napakalaking statistics, na napakalaking epekto sa ating kinabukasan.

So, let me leave it at that and again endorse the confirmation of the ad interim appointment of Sec. Rex Gatchalian.  

God bless you brother.