THE Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P5.2 billion to cover the one-month requirement of the targeted cash transfer (TCT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the agency said in a statement yesterday.
Budget secretary Amenah Pangandaman approved the release of the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) amounting to P5.2 billion to the DSWD on November 17, 2022, charged against the unprogrammed appropriation (UA).
The amount seeks to cover part of the third tranche of the TCT program, which will benefit an estimated 9.8 million identified indigent families.
“The DBM fully supports the projects and programs that provide social assistance to our fellow kababayans. It was the President himself who gave the marching order not to neglect those in dire need. Thus, we will do everything we can in our capacity so that they may receive the benefits entitled to them,” Pangandaman said.
The TCT program grants unconditional cash transfers to the most affected households in the amount of P500 per month for six months in order to mitigate the effects of the increase in the prices of fuel and other non-fuel commodities on vulnerable populations.
The DBM has previously released a total amount of P10.33 billion to the DSWD covering two months of cash transfers for 10 million target household beneficiaries.
