The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) conducted a pilot off-site over-the-counter (OTC) payout for the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) grants of 2,022 Listahanan beneficiaries from Quezon City on July 27, 2019, at the DSWD Central Office, Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

The payout was led by DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista, together with DSWD Field Office (FO) National Capital Region (NCR) Director Vicente Gregorio B. Tomas.

UCT is the tax subsidy provided for under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to help 10 million indigent Filipino families and individuals cushion the effect of the policy in terms of the adjustment in the excise tax of petroleum products.

Among the beneficiaries who received assistance was Virginia Horario, a solo parent and senior citizen beneficiary from Novaliches, Quezon City.

“Malaking tulong po sa akin itong naibigay ng DSWD kaya po nagpapasalamat po ako. Ang naibigay ng DSWD na pinansyal na tulong ay para sa pag-aaral ng aking mga apo” (I am grateful for the cash assistance provided by DSWD because it will help fund the schooling of my grandchildren), said Virginia.

Also present in the  payout were DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag, Assistant Secretary Noel Macalalad, Assistant Secretary Rhea Peñaflor, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Assistant Secretary Rolando Toledo, Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) Senior Vice President for North NCR Branches Group Leila Martin, and representatives from the Department of Finance (DOF).

As provided for in the TRAIN  Law, UCT beneficiaries will receive P200 per month or P2,400 for 2018, and P300 per month or P3,600 for years 2019 and 2020.

On July 19, 2019, DSWD FO NCR also conducted payouts in the cities of Navotas, Malabon, and Las Piñas with 325 Listahanan beneficiaries receiving their UCT grants. -30-