Law provides them financial assistance
TACLOBAN CITY- Beneficiaries of a financial assistance in the region source from the TRAIN (Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion) Law are calling senators not to suspend its implementation saying it’s a big help to them.
Suspending it would mean a deduction of about P200 a month, an amount that matters to the beneficiaries who are all identified by the government under its 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program).
Some senators, notably Senator Bam Aquino, are calling for the suspension of the TRAIN Law to help cushion the raising inflation rate of the country.
“Please to our senators and our leaders, don’t stop the enforcement of the TRAIN Law. The amount that we receive, no matter how small it is, is really a big help to us poor people,” Nenita Cantanero,40 of Barangay Malibago, Babatngon town in Leyte said Wednesday(July 11).
Malibago was interviewed during a press conference organized by the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development here in the city as part of its information campaign on the update of the implementation of 4Ps in the region.
The 4Ps was first implemented in the region in 2008 covering 10 towns in Northern Samar, considered one of the poorest provinces in the country.
About 283,222 families of the region who are members of the 4Ps are also entitled to receive a financial assistance taken from the TRAIN Law enactment.
On top of the P5,400 a month she is receiving as a 4Ps beneficiary, Malibago is entitled to a P200 per month due to the TRAIN Law.
She is a mother to six children who are in school. Her husband, Reynaldo Jr., has no permanent job.
Lilia Advincula, 46 and from this city, also appealed to those who are seeking for the suspension of the TRAIN Law.
“It’s really a big, big help to us because the amount that we receive from the TRAIN (Law) boosted our assistance as a 4Ps beneficiary,” the mother to four children said.
Her husband, Renato, works as a job order worker of the Department of Public Works and Highways as part of its maintenance crew cleaning up the streets.
Paula Unay, regional program coordinator of 4Ps, said that she is also not in favor to suspend the implementation of the TRAIN Law.
According to her, the P200 monthly assistance, which is to increase to P300 next year, helps the poor.
“After all, it is the poor people that should be given assistance by our government…to help them cushion the rising prices of commodities,” Unay said.(JOEY A. GABIETA)
