LUCENA CITY, Quezon, Philippines?President Macapagal-Arroyo?s P12-billion subsidy for poor families under the government ?Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program? (4P or Bridge for the Filipino Family) could serve as campaign fund for administration candidates in the 2010 elections, a militant fishers group warned Sunday.

?President Arroyo will avail of all resources at her disposal to boost the winning chances of her political lapdogs in 2010 elections for her own political survival. And this is the political purpose of the P12-billion fund,? Fernando Hicap, chairman of the fishers' coalition Pambansang Lakas ng Mamamalakaya ng Pilipinas (Pamalakaya, National Forces of the Fishers Movement of the Philippines) said in a statement.

President Arroyo plans to expand the coverage of the 4P cash subsidies to one million poor families affected by the global financial crisis.

Last week, she ordered Budget and Management Secretary Rolando Andaya to ensure funding for the conditional cash transfer program being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The 4P grants a family with a maximum of three children in school a P1,400 monthly subsidy or P15,000 annually if they comply with certain conditions.

Based on next year's P1.541-trillion national budget submitted by the President, 4P will get P12 billion or more than double this year's P5-billion budget.

Hicap said Malacañang has been wooing the estimated 3.7 million poorest families in the country who could constitute 7.4 million to 10 million voters.

?The promotional blitz for Malacañang-backed national candidates will take a free ride from this nationally orchestrated charity and dole out offensive of President Arroyo to improve their chances of winning in 2010,? he added.

The Pamalakaya leader urged Congress to scrutinize the P12-billion budget for poor families during the budget hearings for the DSWD.

He also asked lawmakers to conduct an inquiry on the impact of previous pro-poor projects of the government and determine if the 4P really improved the people's quality of life.

President Arroyo once ordered the grant of P500 each in cash to poor families in Metro Manila and the provinces to help them pay for their electricity bills. She also granted P500 each to senior citizens.