‘Spare cash program for poor from politics’– SBG

SENATOR Christopher “Bong” Go lauded the recent approval by President Rodrigo Duterte of the ‘Targeted Cash Transfer Program’ for vulnerable households affected by the recent increases in fuel prices while appealing on those running in the May 9 polls to spare the program from politics.

In particular, Go said he is addressing his appeal to the implementing agencies, including the local government units (LGUs), given that the program is to be implemented immediately, during the campaign period for the 2022 national and local elections.

“Taus-puso akong nagpapasalamat kay Pangulong Duterte sa pag-apruba ng panukalang programang ito.

“Bilang ama ng bansa, nakikita mo talaga ang kanyang malasakit para sa sambayang Pilipino, lalo na ‘yung pinaka-nangangailangang kababayan natin,” Go said.

“Nasa kalagitnaan tayo ng pangangampanya para sa halalan.  Huwag na nating haluan ng pulitika ang programang ito,” Go stressed.

The government was prompted to ease the burden to the poor by the February 24, 2022, special military operation of Russia in Ukraine that resulted to the almost weekly increase in pump prices of oil products.

The Philippines, which imports all of its oil supplies, is particularly vulnerable to fuel price hikes in the world market, Go noted.

The increases in oil prices also led to increases prices of goods and services, particularly some basic commodities, he noted further.

Earlier, the government’s Economic Development Cluster proposed a P200 monthly cash grant for one year to the bottom 50 percent of Filipino households.

Last March, President Duterte increased the same to P500 per month to be given for six months beginning April this year.

The cash grant seeks to benefit a total of 12.4 million households nationwide where 4.4 million of them are existing beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); 5.6 million as belonging to the non-4Ps, low income beneficiaries under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Unconditional Cash Transfer Program; the remaining 2.4 million households, not included in the first two groups, have also been classified as “essentially poor.”

“Ibigay sa lahat ng mga nararapat bigyan.  Huwag nang patagalin pa.  Marami ang apektado ng krisis sa langis.  Para sa mga mahihirap nating kapwa Pilipino, bawat piso ay mahalaga,” appealed Go, wary of the fact that some LGUs are not interested in immediately releasing the cash support but at the last moment to boost their candidacy among their constituents.

To ensure the seamless implementation of the program, the Department of Finance, National Economic Development Authority, Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Budget and Management will jointly formulate and issue guidelines.

They shall also seek prior clearances from the Commission on Elections and other relevant bodies given the existing election spending ban.

The budget department, in coordination with the Bureau of Treasury and other concerned agencies, will identify possible funding sources.

The social welfare department and the Land Bank of the Philippines shall lead in the distribution of the said grants in the most timely, efficient and secure manner.

“Kailangang ramdam ng mga kababayan natin ang tulong na ito.  Maliit na halaga kung tutuusin pero hangad natin na sana ay makatulong din ito sa mga gastusin ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan.

Bilang senador, andito ako palagi, handang tumulong po sa inyo upang mapagaan ang bigat at hirap na dinadala ng mga kababayan nating pinakaapektado ng iba’t ibang krisis na hinaharap natin,” Go assured.