The government will grant an additional PHP200 monthly subsidy to the recipients of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) recipients starting this month, Acting Presidential Spokesperson Martin Andanar said Thursday.

In a radio interview here, Andanar said the additional aid, with a total amount of PHP33 billion, will benefit 4.2 million households comprising 12 million individuals.

“Kining 200 pesos nga madawat sa atong mga 4.2 million man ni siya nga mga gadawat og 4Ps ba, households, dugang lang kini didto sa 4Ps nga ilang ginadawat karon nga dunay 6,000 tapos duna po 3,000 para sa mga nag-eskuwela (This 200 pesos that our 4.2 million households under 4Ps are going to receive is just an addition to what they’re currently receiving, comprising PHP6,000 and PHP3,000 for the students),” Andanar told Brigada News radio.

The 4Ps conditional cash grant consists of a PHP750 health and nutrition grant and educational grants for a maximum of three children per household: PHP700 for senior high school, PHP500 for junior high school, PHP300 for elementary, and a PHP600 rice subsidy.

Andanar said the current grant amount “will never be enough,” but that the government is doing its best to give what it can afford.

“We will not spend anything more than what we have in our coffers kay ma-bankrupt pod ang atong gobyerno (it will bankrupt our government),” he said.

However, Andanar said the Department of Finance and the Economic Clusters have committed to allocating the tax proceeds from VAT increase and excise tax to those in the lower 50 percent income bracket.

President Rodrigo Roa Duterte approved Wednesday the retention of the fuel excise tax under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law amid the continuing increase of oil and petroleum products prices.

Citing Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Andanar said the government would have lost an estimated PHP105.9 billion in 2022, PHP114.4 billion in 2023, and PHP123.6 billion in 2024 from excise tax suspension.

Revenues from excise taxes, he said, are better allocated for subsidies and other relief measures to cushion the impact of rising prices in fuel and basic commodities. (PNA)