Cavite's 4th District Representative, Francis "Kiko" Barzaga, has put forward a straightforward yet impactful suggestion aimed at tackling the widespread gambling problem in the Philippines. In a statement made on social media, Barzaga proposed legislation that would prohibit those who are beneficiaries of government financial aid from participating in gambling activities.

"Gambling is a big problem in our country, I propose a law that prohibits individuals that regularly receive government financial assistance from participating in gambling activities," Barzaga said in his Facebook post dated August 22.

The legislator, known by his moniker "congressmeow," expressed concern over the growing gambling-related issues and conveyed his intent to help diminish this social vice. While the proposal is still at a conceptual stage, it remains to be seen whether Barzaga will formally introduce a bill outlining concrete measures to enforce such a restriction.

Currently, many underprivileged Filipinos benefit from various government aid programs, with the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) being one of the most prominent forms of ayuda. Barzaga’s initiative seeks to ensure that these funds are utilized responsibly and do not inadvertently support gambling habits among recipients.