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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Extra 'ayuda' in 2024 budget to help Pinoys cope with El Niño's effects--Libanan 

Extra 'ayuda' in 2024 budget to help Pinoys cope with El Niño's effects--Libanan 

Published Dec 27, 2023 03:34 am

At A Glance

  • With the very real threat of El Niño hanging over everybody's heads, House Minority Leader Marcelino "Nonoy" Libanan is banking on the extra subsidies or "ayuda" under the just-enacted 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to pull Filipinos through tough times.

IMG-7500bdf0987db3e4eddc6c512429272f-V.jpgHouse Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan (Contributed photo)

With the very real threat of El Niño hanging over everybody's heads, House Minority Leader Marcelino “Nonoy” Libanan is banking on the extra subsidies or "ayuda" under the just-enacted 2024 General Appropriations Act (GAA) to pull Filipinos through tough times.

He says the additional ayuda in the form of new cash transfers and other subsidy programs in the 2024 GAA are expected to help vulnerable sectors cope with potential price hikes on basic commodities due to the harsh impact of the El Niño phenomenon on farm harvests.

“We are counting on the expanded cash aid and other forms of government support, such as food stamps, to serve as a buffer and provide relief to disadvantaged households,” said Libanan, who represents 4Ps Party-list in the House of Representatives.

“Along with the recent increases in the regional minimum wage rates, the subsidies will help struggling families grapple with the upward pressure on consumer prices,” he said.

The tripartite wages and productivity boards in 16 regions have ordered increases ranging from P30 to P50 in the daily minimum wage of workers employed in private establishments.

The pay adjustments are expected to benefit an estimated 3.82 million workers receiving the minimum wage rate.

Next year's spending plan is worth P5.768 trillion--the biggest in the country’s history. Lawmakers have said that the budget was tailor-made to combat the effects of the incoming drought.

House Speaker Martin Romualdez earlier said that the 2024 national budget includes P60 billion for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita (AKAP), which will provide a one-time P5,000 cash payment to 12 million poor and low-income households.

The budget that was signed into law by President Marcos last Dec. 20 also includes another P30 billion for the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged or Displaced Workers (TUPAD) plus P23 billion for the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

The subsidies are on top of the P112.8 billion earmarked to pay for the cash transfers to 4.4 million households under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps.

Up to 65 provinces in the Philippines may experience “drought” by May 2024 as a result of a stronger El Niño phenomenon, according to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

The DOST defines “drought” as three consecutive months of “way below-normal rainfall condition,” or greater than 60 percent reduction from average rainfall.

Related Tags

Drought marcelino libanan 4PS Party-list AYUDA El Niño
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