Raise cash aid for poor, lawmaker asked

MANILA, Philippines — Lawmakers should increase the budget for the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, acting DSWD secretary Virginia Orogo said yesterday.

“It will be a big help for the poor if our lawmakers will increase the value of the UCT grant,” Orogo said in a post on Twitter.

The cash assistance amounting to P200 a month is given to families belonging to the poorest households to cushion the impact of the  Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion or TRAIN Law.

The cash aid will increase to P300 a month starting next year.

Orogo had earlier said the DSWD is doing its best to fast-track the release of the cash aid to at least 10 million families.

Orogo said they expect to finish the distribution of the cash assistance to 4.4 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps before the end of July.

“The DSWD has issued a total of P10,086,230,400 in UCT grants to Pantawid beneficiaries,” she said.

Orogo said the distribution of the UCT grant to around three million senior citizens is ongoing.

Orogo said at least 2.6 million households in the database of the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction are the other beneficiaries.

She said they are still validating the list, noting that it was based on a 2015 survey.

Orogo said the Land Bank of the Philippines would issue cash cards to UCT beneficiaries.