12 million beneficiaries may start receiving P200 'ayuda' this month

Beneficiaries may begin receiving the government’s P200 monthly “ayuda” stipend as early as this month, according to Malacanang.

Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar told Dobol B TV that the beneficiaries are individuals who are currently getting government assistance via the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps.

“That’s about 12 million individuals,” he said.

A household may receive between P1,400 and P3,000 per month in health and education subsidies under the 4Ps program, depending on the number of children it has and if the household meets the government’s requirements.

According to Andanar, the monthly P200 stipend will be paid as an “unconditional” cash transfer for a year.

“Ito pa ay on top of the 4Ps na ibibigay doon sa ating beneficiaries ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” Andanar said.

“Once na ma-download yung pera na nagkakahalaga ng P33 billion ay ibibigay na po talaga at ang target po ay this month masimulan na,” he added.

(Once the fund amounting to P33 billion has been downloaded, it will be distributed. The target is this month.)

12 million beneficiaries may start receiving P200 ‘ayuda’ this month

President Rodrigo Duterte approved a P200 monthly ayuda for disadvantaged households for an entire year to help them cope with the impact of rising fuel prices.

The Department of Finance (DOF) offered the P200 monthly subsidy as an alternative to plans to suspend excise taxes on gasoline items.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez acknowledged that the amount might not be sufficient but stated that it is the most the government can afford at this time.

“It’s what we can afford as of today,” Andanar said, quoting Dominguez.

“Kung ano lang ang kaya ng kaban ng bayan, yun lang ang maibibigay natin kasi kung susobra naman tayo dun ay mangungutang na naman tayo (The government can only give what it can afford, otherwise it has to take loans again),” he added.

President Rodrigo Duterte has approved providing a P200 monthly cash aid or “ayuda” for poor households for an entire year to mitigate the impact of fuel price spikes.