MANILA – The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allocated approximately PHP5.2 billion to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to fund the distribution of PHP500 monthly cash aid to 9.8 million underprivileged households.
The DBM on Tuesday stated that Budget Secretary Amenah Pangandaman on November 17 approved the release of Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) amounting to PHP5.2 billion to the DSWD.
The latest fund release, which will be charged against the Unprogrammed Appropriation (UA), will cover the third tranche of the DSWD’s TCT (targeted cash transfer) program, according to the DBM.
“The amount seeks to cover part of the third tranche of the TCT program. Around 9.8 million identified beneficiaries will be covered by the latest fund release,” it said.
The General Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2022, or Republic Act 11639, includes a special provision that allows the UA to be used when there are new revenue collections or those arising from new tax or non-tax sources that are not part of, nor included in, the original revenue sources reflected in the Budget of Expenditure and Sources of Financing.
The DBM stated that the PHP5.2 billion release is a portion of the PHP9.1 billion computed requirement to cover the one-month grant for the 9,8 million identified beneficiaries and the three-month grants for an additional 2.6 million TCT program beneficiaries.
Pangandaman stated that the DBM, in accordance with the order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to help the poor, completely supports the projects and programs that give social assistance to Filipinos who are in need.
“It was the President himself who gave the marching order not to neglect those in dire need. Thus, we will do everything we can in our capacity so that they may receive the benefits entitled to them,” she said.
A PHP500 monthly subsidy will be provided to the most affected households for a duration of six months under the TCT Program.
The program is being undertaken to alleviate the impact of increasing fuel and non-fuel prices on vulnerable populations.
Prior to this, the DBM released approximately PHP10.33 billion to finance the DSWD’s TCT program implementation for two months, benefiting 10 million target household beneficiaries.
