CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — A total of 3,901 Bulakenyos from seven towns and one city received cash grants from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the launching of the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT)-Listahan payout in this city on Friday.
DSWD Acting Secretary Virginia Orogo and several department and provincial officials were present during the distribution of PHP2,400 to each beneficiary at the Bulacan Capitol Gymnasium.
Some PHP9.36 million cash grants were disbursed to the 996 beneficiaries from Hagonoy, 708 from the City of Malolos, 564 from Pulilan, 462 from Calumpit, 380 from Guiguinto, 309 from Plaridel, 244 from Balagtas and 238 from Paombong.
The beneficiaries were identified through the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) or Listahanan.
Orogo said President Rodrigo Roa Duterte wants ease of business in the country that is why they have given the cash grant for the whole year when it is supposedly PHP200 per month.
“That is what our President wants. If we have public services, it should be comfortable and if possible, there is no difficulty in accessing government services,” Orogo said.
Governor Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said the cash grants given to qualified beneficiaries is not giving alms to the poor but an act of concern, giving them a chance to live with dignity under the concept of social justice.
“We sincerely hope that through this government grant you will not only temporarily cope with the burdensome conditions of your families, but will serve as a bridge to your permanent, noble, secure and abundant life,” he said.
There are 15,920 UCT-Listahan beneficiaries in Bulacan with the remaining recipients to be notified once the schedules are set.
UCT is the tax subsidy provided under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to help the poor cushion the adverse economic impact of the law for three years starting 2018.
For this year, beneficiaries received PHP200 per month or PHP2,400 for one year. In 2019 and 2020, the subsidy will increase to PHP300 or PHP3,600 a year. (Manny Balbin/PNA)
