(CHRISTIAN DALE)

KUMBINSIDO ang National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) na ang ipalalabas na targeted subsidies sa low-income families ay makatutulong na mapagaan ang matinding epekto ng sumirit na presyo langis at iba pang pangunahing pangangailangan.

“The timely release of the fund is crucial in the government’s efforts to help the poor cope with the continuous rise in commodity prices due to external shocks and other factors,”ayon kay NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan sa isang kalatas.

Nagpalabas ng kalatas si Balisacan matapos aprubahan ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) ang pagpapalabas ng P4.1-bilyon

Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) para sa Department of Social Welfare at Development’s (DSWD) Targeted Cash Transfer (TCT) Program.

“The amount will cover the second tranche requirements for the implementation of the TCT Program, in which beneficiaries will receive P500 in monthly cash subsidy in three tranches for six months or a total of P3,000,” ayon sa ulat.

Matatandaang noong nakaraang buwan, ipinalabas ng DBM ang P6.2 billion para sa first tranche ng TCT.

Sinabi ni Balisacan na “the cash transfer program is an important intervention to protect the purchasing power of the poor, which is among the priorities of the Marcos administration’s 8-point socioeconomic agenda.”

Inatasan naman ang NEDA na ilatag ang 8-point agenda ng Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, kung saan ipinangako ng economic planning agency na idedeliver sa pagtatapos ng taon.

“Our near-term goal as envisioned in our 8-point agenda is to safeguard Filipinos against the most pressing issues today, which are rising inflation and the lingering socioeconomic scarring caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” ayon kay Balisacan.

Aniya, nasa apat na milyon ang mabibiyayaan ng ayuda na kabilang sa 50% mahihirap na populasyon.