The Department of Social Welfare and Development – National Capital Region implements the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Program stipulated in Section 82 of Republic Act 10963 or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) law to provide cash grants to poor households and individuals who may not benefit from the lower income tax rates but may be adversely affected by rising process.

The Department, through the National Household Targeting System (NHTS) will undertake the validation of Listahanan-identified poor who are non-Pantawid Pamilya household and non-Social Pension beneficiaries starting April to May 2018 in all cities and municipality in Metro Manila.

Ten million households/individuals will receive the UCT. Of this figure, 4.4 million are Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. DSWD will facilitate the payment to 1.8 million beneficiaries with cash cards by 2018. The remaining 2.6 million households will be selected from the Listahanan which will go through validation to ensure that those who will benefit from the UCT program belong to the poorest 1st to 7th income deciles as indicated in the above mentioned law.

The UCT will be implemented for three (3) years. For 2018, each family will receive P200 per month or a total of P2,400 a year through LBP Cash Cards. This will increase to P300 per month or P3,600 annually for both 2019 and 2020.

“DSWD as implementer will continue to uphold efficiency, transparency and compassion in the delivery of its programs and services — now including the UCT — and to be true to its mandate to provide “maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo and serbisyong walang puwang sa katiwalian” Regional Director Vincent Andrew T. Leyson emphasized.

The Republic Act no. 10963, or the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) Law, seeks to enhance the efficiency, simplicity, and equity of the tax system in order to promote investment, create jobs, and reduce poverty. ###