Arroyo OKs use of P100M for rice, health, anti-poverty

from the Inquirer

By Lira Dalangin-Fernandez

MANILA, Philippines -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has authorized the use of five percent of the 2007 budget surplus, or about P100 million, for programs related to rice, cheap consumer and medicine outlets, Philhealth, and microfinance programs to help poor families reeling from the high prices of commodities.

Arroyo signed Administrative Order 225 to "harness idle resources to uplift the poor and boost rice supply to cushion the country from price spikes."

Government-owned-and-controlled-corporations and government financial institutions covered by the order are the Philippine Gaming Corp., the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Social Security System, the Government Service Insurance System, the National Power Corp., and the Philippine National Oil Company.

Under the order, Arroyo also instructed the Department of Agriculture, Department Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Justice-Office of the Government Corporate Counsel to provide coordination and technical support to the agencies in implementing the projects.

The National Anti-Poverty Commission was also tasked to oversee the implementation of the projects, which should start not later than July.