I’d rather be feeding the poor than helping politicians buy their Nth house, just hope this isn’t just a way for government officials to extract the money from the government coffers. I’d really love if they found away, for ordinary citizens through technology; to monitor such projects.<\/p>\n
RP steps up cash handouts to poor
\nAgence France-Presse First Posted 17:22:00 04\/03\/2009
\nFiled Under: Poverty, World Financial Crisis, Unemployment, Government Aid
\nMANILA, Philippines — Five million of the Philippines’ poorest families will receive cash or health insurance benefits from the government this year, Malaca\u00f1ang said Friday.
\nA total of 321,000 families — double the original target — will qualify for cash handouts of up to P9,000 $187.50 this year, spokesman Cerge Remonde told reporters.
\nMore than 100,000 people have either lost their jobs or suffered pay cuts as the effects of the global financial crisis hits the Philippines.
\nThe country has been hit by plunging exports amid falling demand from recession-plagued overseas markets, according to labor department data.
\nUnder the plans, five million families will receive the equivalent of P1,200 each in the form of medical insurance coverage, Remonde added.
\nThe government will also retrain half a million young people aged between 15 and 24 “which is the biggest segment of the unemployed population,” he said.
\nThe government says nine million people — or 10 percent of the population, are now jobless or underemployed.
\nThe Asian Development Bank said Philippine economic growth would slow to 2.5 percent this year compared to 6.4 percent in 2008.
\nvia RP steps up cash handouts to poor – INQUIRER.net, Philippine News for Filipinos<\/a>.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I’d rather be feeding the poor than helping politicians buy their Nth house, just hope this isn’t just a way for government officials to extract the money from the government coffers. I’d really love if they found away, for ordinary citizens through technology; to monitor such projects. RP steps up cash handouts to poor Agence … <\/p>\n