Malacañang on Monday rejected Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s assertion that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. refused his proposal to grant P10,000 in cash aid to Filipino families.
Palace officials clarified that the proposal never reached the President because it remained a legislative measure that did not advance in Congress.
A Palace spokesperson stated that since no formal action was taken, it cannot be said the President rejected anything.
The proposal was introduced while Cayetano was still a congressman and failed to progress before Marcos assumed office in 2022.
Officials noted the measure would have required approval from both the House and the Senate before it could be implemented.
The Palace added that the proposal was absent from the 2022 national budget, which had been finalized prior to Marcos taking office.
Cayetano had earlier argued the government had the capacity to fund the proposed cash assistance.
