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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Congress must back P253-B 'ayuda' funds in 2025 budget—Tiangco

Congress must back P253-B 'ayuda' funds in 2025 budget—Tiangco

Published Aug 2, 2024 09:58 am

At A Glance

  • Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco is urging his colleagues in Congress to fully support the approval of the proposed P253.3-billion allocation for the government's social assistance and cash aid programs during the upcoming deliberations of the 2025 national budget.

873CE161-3417-4C60-AF7B-BF42D1BD7A3B.jpegNavotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco (PPAB)

Navotas City lone district Rep. Toby Tiangco is urging his colleagues in Congress to fully support the approval of the proposed P253.3-billion allocation for the government’s social assistance and cash aid programs during the upcoming deliberations of the 2025 national budget.

“It is imperative that Congress throws its full support for these programs because they can directly benefit poor Filipinos, provide economic relief, and give them opportunities to uplift their lives and that of their families,” Tiangco said in a statement on Friday, Aug. 2.

“Napakahalaga na ito ay maipasa nang buo para siguradong walang maantala sa mga plano ni President Bongbong na palawakin ang mga tulong na maaaring matanggap mula sa gobyerno,” he added.

(It is very important to pass this in its entirety to ensure that there is no delay in President Bongbong's plans to expand the assistance that can be received from the government.)

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) earlier announced that the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) would receive the bulk of the budget allocation for “ayuda” (aid) programs with P114.1 billion.

The budget proposal is 7.4 percent higher than the P106.3-billion allocation in the enacted 2024 national budget.

Tiangco, a vice chairperson of the House Committee on Appropriations, said it is evident that the Marcos administration continues to exert efforts to expand the benefits and assistance to help the country’s vulnerable sectors.

“Para sa mga pamilyang Pilipino na ang gobyerno lang ang masasandalan, malaking bagay na nakikita nila na nabibigyan ng karampatang pondo ang mga programang makakapag-angat sa kanila sa kahirapan," he stressed.

(For Filipino families who have only the government to rely on, it is a big deal for them to see that programs that can lift them out of poverty are adequately funded.)

As announced in President Marcos’ recent State of the Nation Address (SONA), the Department of Health (DOH) will get an allocation of P1.20 billion for its Cancer Assistance Fund.

Tiangco said the funding for this program will “greatly unburden” Filipinos who suffer from the disease.

The lawmaker noted that it’s equally vital to approve, in full, the proposed funding for the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

This program is allocated P49.8 billion, which will be used to provide a monthly allowance of P1,000 for indigent senior citizens.

“Dapat ding pag-aralan kung papaano pa ito mapalalawak dahil maraming mga senior ang nasa waitlist. Kailangan ding maipasa ang iba’t-ibang cash aid programs na nilalapitan ng ating mga seniors para sa kanilang mga pangangailangan,” Tiangco added.

(It should also be studied how it can be expanded because there are many seniors still on the waitlist. It is also necessary to pass the various cash aid programs that our seniors rely on for their needs.)

At the same time, the Navotas solon is also pushing for an increase in other assistance programs such as the fuel subsidy program of the Department of Agriculture (DA), which is set to receive P100 million.

The subsidy program intends to ease the burden of farmers and fisherfolk as prices for petroleum continue to fluctuate.

As announced by the DBM, the Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances Program and Sustainable Livelihood Program under DSWD will be allocated P35.1 billion and P4.4 billion, respectively.

Additionally, the recently launched Food Stamps Program has a proposed P1.9-billion allocation. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) has a proposed P14.1-billion budget.

“I appreciate the administration’s clear focus and commitment to expanding assistance programs that can provide both short-term relief and long-term support towards poverty alleviation,” noted Tiangco.

As a ranking member of the appropriations panel, Tiangco is among the lawmakers who will take charge in the plenary debates for next year’s proposed P6.352-trillion budget.

Hearings on the 2025 budget are set to start next week.

Related Tags

2025 national budget budget deliberations toby tiangco AYUDA
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