Senatorial candidate and Makati City Mayor Abby Binay has proposed reallocating a portion of government cash grants or "ayuda" to provide maintenance medicines for senior citizens.

Binay acknowledged that her proposal might face criticism but emphasized that it would ensure government aid is used for essential healthcare needs.

"Ang aking proposal ay, although I know marami pong magrereact, di po ba nagbibigay tayo na AKAP, nagbibigay tayo ng AICS, baka po pwedeng partial, hindi naman po puro pera. Baka po pwedeng gamot po ang ibigay natin," she said during a press conference on Friday.

("My proposal is, although I know many will react, don’t we provide AKAP, don’t we provide AICS? Maybe we can make it partial, not entirely in cash. Maybe we can give medicines instead.")

She added that offering free maintenance medicines would provide immediate relief to seniors, whose pensions are often depleted by medical expenses.

"Ang akin lang naman po ay makapagbigay naman kahit kaunti dahil dito po napupunta ang gastos ng ating mga senior citizen sa kanilang pension," Binay explained. “Kung may pension silang natatanggap, nauubos po iyong pera nila sa pambili ng gamot.”

("My intention is simply to provide even a little help because this is where our senior citizens' pensions are spent," Binay explained. "If they receive a pension, their money is depleted just to buy medicine.")

With many elderly Filipinos struggling to afford both medicines and basic necessities, Binay proposed introducing legislation to provide free maintenance medicines, as well as unlimited and free dialysis and chemotherapy for seniors and indigent beneficiaries if elected to the Senate.