Manila Bulletin
P500-monthly unconditional cash transfer for country's poorest sought in the Lower House
P500-monthly unconditional cash transfer for country's poorest sought in the Lower House
P500-monthly unconditional cash transfer for country's poorest sought in the Lower House
Published Aug 27, 2019 02:23 pm
By Ben Rosario
Instead of P300 monthly for this year, the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) government should distribute P500 per month to each of the 7.4 million poorest Filipino families to help them counter the effects of high prices of prime commodities and other basic necessities.
1PACMAN partylist Rep. Michael "Mikee" Romero
(RIO DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN) Deputy Speaker and 1Pacman Partylist Rep. Michael L. Romero aired this appeal as he filed House Bill 184, proposing to direct the national government to increase the UCT to P500 per month for each family. From 200 per month in 2018, the financial assistance granted by government under the social protection program is due to increase to P300 this year. Romero said that, while an adjustment of the amount of social amelioration fund was appreciated, its effects in uplifting the poor may not be felt by the beneficiaries. The monthly subsidy should be adjusted to P500 in order to cushion the continued negative economic impact of Republic Act NO. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN law, he said. HB 184 was re-filed by Romero after the 17th Congress failed to approve a similar measure due to lack of time. “This House bill seeks to foster an accelerated program management scheme which will focus on the payroll generation, beneficiary validation and the release of more funds to the beneficiaries of the UCT program,” said Romero. The House official noted that the UCT was developed by government “on the premise that giving cash to citizens allows them to have autonomy over their own lives.” He pointed out that it is a declared policy of government to provide strategic social development schemes that will extend unconditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education. Deputy Speaker Romero said the UCT has been scheduled for adjustment from monthly P200 to P300 in 2019 and 2020. “Increasing the amount of social subsidy to P500 is more realistic in achieving the noble goals of the UCT,” Romero stated. Government allotted P25.67 billion for the first year implementation of UCT. Romero’s proposal will require government to set aside an estimated P44 million annually until 2020 which will be taken from the projected P150 billion revenues from the full implementation of the TRAIN Law.
1PACMAN partylist Rep. Michael "Mikee" Romero(RIO DELUVIO / MANILA BULLETIN) Deputy Speaker and 1Pacman Partylist Rep. Michael L. Romero aired this appeal as he filed House Bill 184, proposing to direct the national government to increase the UCT to P500 per month for each family. From 200 per month in 2018, the financial assistance granted by government under the social protection program is due to increase to P300 this year. Romero said that, while an adjustment of the amount of social amelioration fund was appreciated, its effects in uplifting the poor may not be felt by the beneficiaries. The monthly subsidy should be adjusted to P500 in order to cushion the continued negative economic impact of Republic Act NO. 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN law, he said. HB 184 was re-filed by Romero after the 17th Congress failed to approve a similar measure due to lack of time. “This House bill seeks to foster an accelerated program management scheme which will focus on the payroll generation, beneficiary validation and the release of more funds to the beneficiaries of the UCT program,” said Romero. The House official noted that the UCT was developed by government “on the premise that giving cash to citizens allows them to have autonomy over their own lives.” He pointed out that it is a declared policy of government to provide strategic social development schemes that will extend unconditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education. Deputy Speaker Romero said the UCT has been scheduled for adjustment from monthly P200 to P300 in 2019 and 2020. “Increasing the amount of social subsidy to P500 is more realistic in achieving the noble goals of the UCT,” Romero stated. Government allotted P25.67 billion for the first year implementation of UCT. Romero’s proposal will require government to set aside an estimated P44 million annually until 2020 which will be taken from the projected P150 billion revenues from the full implementation of the TRAIN Law.