Press Release
January 17, 2018

NANCY: FAST TRACK RELEASE OF FUNDS, IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS AND GUIDELINES TO CUSHION TRAIN IMPACT TO POOR FAMILIES

Senator Nancy Binay today called on the budget department and other government agencies to fast track the release of funds and immediately implement programs and guidelines meant to mitigate the impact of the tax reform law, especially to poor families in the country.

"Tinatawagan ko po ang Department of Budget and Management (DBM), kasama ang ibang government agencies, na bilisan ang paglalabas ng pondo at ipatupad ang mga guidelines at programang pampagaan ng epekto ng tax reform law sa ating mga mahihirap na kababayan," Binay said.

The solon said that the rise in excise taxes on petroleum products and coal brought by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law could lead to higher prices of basic goods and electricity.

"Ngayong ipinapatupad na ang batas na ito, sana ay mas mabilis din ang pagtugon ng ating pamahalaan sa mga pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayang tatamaan ng inaasahang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin at elektrisidad," she added.

A total of PhP28.8 billion has been allocated in the 2018 national budget to offset the effects of the TRAIN law.

The poorest 10 million Filipino households will receive a cash aid of PhP200 a month this year to soften the shock of increased prices of goods. The government has lodged P24.5 billion in the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) for this unconditional cash grant (UCT).

The cash grant will rise to PhP300 a month in 2019 and 2020.

"Kung kayang ipalabas ang pondo ng UCT by the end of January or first week of February ay mas makakatulong ito sa ating mga kababayan," Binay said.

Another PhP2 billion has been allocated to the National ID System program of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), meant to limit leakages in the delivery of social services and ensure that services reach the intended recipients.

"Ang agarang implementasyon ng National ID program ay magsisiguro na yung mga kumakalam na tiyan ng mga mahihirap na beneficiaries ng cash grants ay tunay na malalamnan," Binay said.

The DBM also said that the rise in inflation is projected to be countered by lowering rice prices through policy reforms.

"Kung may kinakailangang bagong batas o amyenda ng batas upang masiguro ang ipinapanukalang pagtatanggal ng quantitative restrictions sa bigas, nakahanda po ang Senado na tanggapin at aksyunan ito," Binay said.

She also called on the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to immediately issue the guidelines for the PhP2.3 billion loan facility meant to replace old public utility jeepneys (PUJs) that will be extended to public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

"Tulungan din po natin ang ating mga tsuper na umaasa sa pamamasada ng mga jeep para mabuhay na agarang mapalitan ang kanilang lumang unit ng abot kaya at makabagong mga jeep," Binay said.

"Sinasabi na ang TRAIN ay isa sa pinakamagandang regalo ng pamahalaan sa mga Pilipino dahil sa mas mataas na sweldo, pero mas magandang regalo ang magaan na epekto ng batas sa mga bulsa ng ating mga kababayan, lalo na sa mga mahihirap," she added.

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