(Eagle News) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development has started distributing the P2,400 per year subsidy to millions of poor families in the country who were affected by the implementation of the Tax Reform Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) program.
The unconditional cash transfer (UCT) funds of P200 per month or P2,400 yearly subsidy was first given to 1.8 million households who are already holding cash cards under the UCT or the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino program. Next to be given the subsidies are some 2.6 million more poor families, according to DSWD officer-in-charge undersecretary Emmanuel Leyco.
“Sa ngayon, 1.8 million households na kabilang sa pantawid ang binibigyan nating ng ayuda. Sila po yung mga naka-cash cards na sa Landbank, katulong namin ang Landbank sa pagbibigay ng pondo,” Leyco said.
“Yung additional na 2.6 million ang target natin ay maibibigay rin natin sa buwang ito, siguro in the next 3 weeks maibibigay na natin through financial conduits na makikipagtulungan sa atin at ng Landbank,” he added.
Also included in the UCT program are some three million senior citizens.
Some of the UCT beneficiaries immediately withdrew their subsidies from automatic teller machines (ATMs) of the Landbank, and expressed appreciation for the government’s help
(with a video report from Eden Suarez Santos, Eagle News Service)