10-B aid allocated for poor

Gov’t also eyes 15,000 fuel voucher for each jeepney owner

The government will distribute cash subsidies to poor families and fuel vouchers to public utility jeepney drivers starting next month to cushion the impact of the new tax reform law, Malacañang announced Thursday.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said at least 110 billion would be allocated for the government's unconditional cash transfer program that will benefit 10 million poorest families.

The government, on the other hand, has yet to finalize the total amount for the Pantawid Pasada Program but was considering giving away 15,000 worth of fuel vouchers to each jeepney owner, according to Roque.

The financial assistance package prepared by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) for sectors affected by the Tax Reform for Acceleration

and Inclusion (TRAIN) Act was discussed during President Duterte's meeting with the Cabinet last Monday.

“Nagkaroon po ng anunsiyo ang DSWD at saka DOTr tungkol ito po doon sa mga hakbang na ginagawa natin para maibsan iyong epekto ng TRAIN [There was an announcement from the DSWD and DOTr about the measures to ease the impact of TRAIN],” Roque said during a Palace press briefing.

“At ang sabi po ng DSWD,' yung unconditional cash transfer para po sa sampung milyong pinakamahihirap na mga Pilipino ay mabibigay nang buongbuo by July of this year. Mayroon pong sampung bilyong piso ang ipamimigay natin sam gap in aka ma hi hi rap na a tin g mg aka ba bay an pa rang am aibsa nan gepek ton g TRAINs aka nil a[ The DSWD said the unconditional cash transfer for 10 million poorest Filipino families would be given in full by July of this year. At least 110 billion will be given to the poorest countrymen to ease the blow of TRAIN],” he added.

To mitigate the TRAIN impact on franchise-holding jeepney drivers and operators, the government has also revived the fuel subsidy program but has yet to decide on the fund allocation. Roque said the funds for the fuel vouchers would depend on the revenues collected from TRAIN.

“Now, hindi pa po pinal iyong halaga ng voucher pero mahigit kumulang po limang libong piso po kada owner ng jeepney ang maibibigay [The amount of the voucher is still not final but it might be more or less 15,000 will be given to each jeepney owner]," he said.

Roque said the government was also in the process of determining the real beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy program.

“Pinaplantsa na lang po, eh para maiwasan iyong karanasan natin noong nakalipas na administrasyon na pati iyong mga walang prangkisa at saka iyong mga hindi nagmamay-ari ng PUJ ay nabigyan ng subsidy [It is being ironed out to avoid the experience of the past administration that those without franchise and not owners of PUV were given subsidies],” he said.

President Duterte has rejected calls to suspend the implementation of the tax reform law, insisting that taxes are the lifeblood of the government.

Duterte maintained that Filipinos must pay taxes to bankroll vital government projects like free college tuition program, that aim to improve their lives.

Last January, the government started to implement the first TRAIN package that reduced the personal income taxes, but imposed higher excise taxes on fuel, cars, and sweetened beverages. Some groups, however, have called for the suspension of the TRAIN law amid the rising prices of petroleum products and other basic commodities.