P12.4 billion allotted for expanded cash aid amid Middle East tensions
MANILA, Philippines — The government has allotted a P12.375 billion budget for the extended cash assistance to low-income sectors in response to the continued tensions in the Middle East.
Malacañang announced on Thursday, July 16, that around 7.5 million households or 37.5 million Filipinos will benefit from the extended Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport program.
Around 3.5 million of them are beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Walang Gutom Program. They are set to receive an additional P2,000 as a one-time cash aid.
Also included in the cash assistance are the 2.5 million poor and near-poor households identified on the 2024 community-based monitoring system.
Meanwhile, 1.5 million low-income workers who are members of the Social Security System and their families will also receive P2,000 monthly from July to December.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will lead the distribution of the cash assistance through digital banks.
“Patuloy lang ang pagkilos ng pamahalaan upang salagin ang epekto ng krisis sa langis sa kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan. Hindi titigil ang gobyerno sa pagsuporta sa mga pamilyang Pilipino na nasa laylayan ng lipunan,” Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a press briefing on Thursday, July 16.
(The government continues to act to ward off the effects oil crisis on the lives of people. The government will not stop supporting the Filipino families who are on the margins of society.)
The budget was already released yesterday by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), according to Castro.
For the middle class
Malacañang also addressed the concern regarding the lack of government aid for the middle-class sector, clarifying that there still are government projects intended to benefit them, either directly or indirectly.
According to Castro, the government is avoiding an increase in fare prices amid the possibility of further oil price hikes to also prevent a spike in prices of goods and commodities.
“Maaaring ang makinabang din dito ay lahat tayo dahil hindi agad tataas ang presyo ng bilihin. Hindi tataas ang presyo ng pamasahe,” Castro said.
(We may all benefit from this because the prices of goods will not immediately increase. The fare prices will not increase)
Castro also stressed that while the government is aware that everyone is affected by the impact of the Middle East conflict, the budget of the government remains limited, therefore, having the need to prioritize the low-income population in distributing cash aid.
“Alam natin na lahat naman tayo ay nakakaranas ng epekto ng crisis sa Middle East. Pero tandaan po natin ang budget ng gobyerno ay binabalanse sa mga dapat na mabigyan agad ng ayuda,” Castro said. “Hindi problema kung napakarami siguro nating budget pero ang budget ngayon talagang pinagkakasya ng gobyerno.”
(We know that all of us are experiencing the effects of the crisis in the Middle East. But let us remember that the government's budget is being balanced to ensure that those who need assistance immediately receive it. It wouldn't be a problem if we had a very large budget, but the government is stretching its current budget as much as possible.)
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