President Duterte Approves P200 Monthly Cash Aid for Poor Families
President Duterte has already approved the P200 monthly cash aid for poor families but excise tax on fuel will remain.
Acting presidential spokesperson Martin Andanar announced that President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the two recommendations of the Department of Finance (DOF) regarding the surging prices of petroleum products.
Andanar said that the Philippine president approved the target P200 monthly allowance for poor families in the country and the retention of excise taxes on fuel as a part of Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion law.
“Una, ang pag-retain ng fuel excise taxes na ini-impose ng TRAIN Law dahil ang pagsuspende nito ay magre-reduce ng government revenue ng P105.9 billion na magpopondo sa mga programa ng pamahalaan. At pangalawa, ang pagbibigay ng targeted subsidies ng P200 bawat household to the bottom 50% of Filipino households,” Andanar said.
Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III proposed the P200 monthly subsidy for poor Filipinos for an entire year amid the increasing fuel prices. He also proposed to retain the excise tax because suspending it will lead to reduced government revenue.
However, the DOF secretary admitted that the amount is not enough but it was the only amount that the government can afford. The government aims to allocate P33.1 billion for the program.
Senator Panfilo Lacson also claimed that the amount is not enough and suggested the temporary suspension of excise tax on fuel until the war between Russia and Ukrain stops.
“Against P200 per month, napakaliit (that’s too small). ‘Di kakayanin ‘yun, ‘di makakasapat (That won’t suffice),” Lacson said.
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