Senatorial aspirant Rodante Marcoleta on Tuesday proposed a long-term solution to poverty, emphasizing the need for more than just temporary government aid for low-income Filipinos.
During a series of visits to towns in Batangas, Marcoleta criticized the current structure of assistance programs such as AKAP and AICS. He claimed that these forms of ayuda, while helpful, only provide one day of relief to beneficiaries.
“The real issue is sustainability,” said Marcoleta. “If you ask me, we need a better, long-term solution.”
He alleged that only around 10 percent of the intended recipients actually receive the aid, citing inefficiencies and possible corruption in the distribution process.
To address this, Marcoleta proposed a radical shift: making electricity free for households with monthly power consumption of ₱2,000 or less. According to him, this approach would eliminate corruption and favoritism, as assistance would go directly to the people without the need for intermediaries.
“There would be no more selection process, no more corruption. The aid goes straight to the public,” he emphasized.
Marcoleta is positioning himself as an advocate for structural change as he vies for a Senate seat in the upcoming elections. His proposal has sparked discussions on alternative methods of addressing poverty amid persistent concerns about inefficient public service delivery.
