Senate raises AICS, TUPAD funding

Transcript

00:00 Nearly 2,000 residents of Bukawi, Bulacan received financial assistance from the government.

00:05 This Senate raised the budget of two important government programs to help more Filipinos.

00:10 Nelena Suarez tells us more.

00:14 At the age of 74, Rosauro is grappling with various illnesses.

00:19 Despite working as a street sweeper, his salary falls short when it comes to covering medical

00:24 expenses.

00:25 So he is hoping the government can extend assistance to him.

00:43 It was a dream come true moment for Rosauro today when he became one of the beneficiaries

00:48 of the one-time big-time payout in Bukawi, Bulacan for the DSWDAX or Assistance to Individuals

00:54 in Crisis Situations program and DOLITUPAD or Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantage

01:00 at Displaced Workers program.

01:02 Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva spearheaded the event.

01:06 In total, almost 2,000 individuals received cash assistance, 1,600 beneficiaries for AICS

01:13 and 350 beneficiaries for TUPAD.

01:15 According to Senator Villanueva, under the proposed 2024 national budget, the Senate

01:39 has increased the funding for AICS and TUPAD, which are two of the most important programs

01:45 of the government.

01:46 This means next year, once the budget proposal is approved, more Filipinos will benefit from

01:52 these initiatives.

01:53 But the question is, when will the general appropriations bill be approved?

01:57 So by Tuesday, because Monday is a holiday, by Tuesday we will be voting on second and

02:04 third and final reading of our Senate version.

02:08 By Wednesday, Thursday, we would be having the bicameral conference committee report

02:14 with our counterparts in the House of Representatives.

02:17 So hopefully before the week ends or first week of December, we'll be able to ratify

02:25 the national budget.

02:27 And before the second week, so first week of December, we are looking at the president

02:33 signing our national budget, which is a very important piece of legislation.

02:38 Apart from aid distribution, a new fire truck was also turned over to the Bulacan local

02:44 government.

02:45 Mela Lesmoras for the nation.