The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Central Visayas releases today the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) cash grants to some 56,291 partner-beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program who have Land Bank cash cards.

The national government’s UCT program is provided for by the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law.

Of the 56,291 beneficiaries who have cash cards, 34,724 are from Cebu, 17,445 are from Negros Oriental while 3,903 and 219 are from Bohol and Siquijor, respectively.

The Pantawid partner-beneficiaries can already withdraw their 2018 cash grants amounting to Php 2,400 which is the total amount of 2018 subsidy through Land Bank Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre, regional director for the DSWD Central Visayas, explained that the 56,291 Pantawid partner-beneficiaries are the first to receive their UCT cash grants because they already have active cash cards from Land Bank.

Macapobre also explained that DSWD decided that those families who have cash cards will be the first batch to receive the grants as it is easier for Land Bank to facilitate the transfer of funds. The cash grants were directly deposited to their accounts by Land Bank.

“Based on the joint circular of DSWD and the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) on the UCT program implementation the funds will be lodged with the Land Bank and to be used in accordance to the operational guidelines of DSWD,” said Macapobre.

The UCT cash grant is a top up benefit for Pantawid beneficiaries who are also receiving their regular cash grant and Php 600 rice subsidy from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Moreover, Macapobre said that the government has already foreseen the economic shocks of tax reforms among the ranks of the poor and this is why the UCT scheme was created by the TRAIN law to help the poor cushion the adverse economic effect of the policy. The UCT is considered the biggest tax reform mitigation under the TRAIN law which seeks to provide 10 million beneficiaries with cash subsidy amounting to Php 200 per month for 2018 and Php 300 per month for 2019 and 2020.

Meanwhile, the Department is currently exploring all measures so that the remaining beneficiaries will soon receive their UCT subsidies these include the Pantawid beneficiaries who are under the over-the-counter or offsite payment and social pension senior citizen beneficiaries.

For the Listahanan identified-poor households, there will be a validation for potential beneficiaries starting this month. ###

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