Bohol 3rd District Representative Kristine Alexie Tutor said direct cash transfer “ayuda” programs are “effective at keeping poor and low-income households from sinking deeper into poverty.”
Tutor noted that the ayuda programs started with the 4Ps and the World Bank saw it was effective in poverty alleviation.
“But the COVID pandemic was so intense that other programs, like TUPAD, AICS, and AKAP had to be rolled out,” the lady legislator said.
“It is harder and longer for the poor to recover because of the lingering effects of elevated inflation after the pandemic. This is why we still have these ayuda programs. Inflation hurts the poor more,” the chair of the House Committee on Civil Service pointed out.
“The national budget is a law, so in it we make sure the poor have the programs they need.”
“As former President Ramon Magsaysay famously said, those who have less in life should have more in law. The national budget is a law, so in it we make sure the poor have the programs they need,” the lawmaker said.
According to her, this is proper collaboration.
“We are glad to help the DSWD as they disburse the cash grants we budgeted for them.”
“We are glad to help the DSWD as they disburse the cash grants we budgeted for them. We have volunteers to help out, and we prepare the public venues,” Tutor said.
“The ayuda programs are the taxes flowing back to the taxpayers among the poor. Taxes are not just income tax. The poor pay VAT when they make purchases,” she said.
“The poor naturally turn to the government for help because that is why they voted for the officials. They are right to expect poverty alleviation service,” Tutor concluded.
