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MANILA, Philippines — The government is aiming to distribute the P200 monthly subsidy for poor families within the month, presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar said Thursday.
“Once po na ma-download na ‘yung pera na nagkakahalaga ng P33 billion ay ibibigay na ho talaga at ang target ho ay this month masimulan na ho,” Andanar said on Dobol B TV.
(Once the money, amounting to P33 billion, is downloaded, it will be distributed and the target is to start it this month.)
“Meron na pong pondo dito kaya nga po ay very conservative ‘yung ating economic cluster sa pagbigay nito kailangan ay sigurado ho talaga na meron tayong pondo,”
(We already have funds for this. That is why the economic cluster is very conservative in giving it because we have to ensure our funds first.)
President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation of the Department of Finance to provide a monthly aid of P200 to poor households belonging to the bottom half amid rising fuel costs.
The policy drew criticisms, even from lawmakers who said that P200 is meager.
Andanar justified that the amount is what the government can currently afford.
“Ang sinabi po kasi ni [Finance] Secretary [Carlos] Dominguez it is what we can afford as of today. So, obviously kung ano po ‘yung kaya lang ng kaban ng bayan ay ‘yun lang ang maibibigay natin kasi kung sosobra naman tayo du’n ay mangungutang na naman tayo,” he explained.
(Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said that it is what we can afford as of today. So, obviously what the government’s fund can afford, that is what we can distribute because if we overdo it, we will make another loan.)
Andanar recently said that the government is yet to provide assistance to the middle class as government funds limit them to prioritize the vulnerable sectors.