Duterte orders monthly 'ayuda' hiked from P200 to P500

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered that the monthly ayuda for the country's poorest of the poor be increased from P200 a month to P500 amid the rising cost of fuel and other basic commodities.

Duterte made the remark following the widespread criticisms received by the government's allocation of P200 a month in cash aid for the poorest families identified by the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

"Gawin na natin na P500. Bahala na ang susunod na presidente, saan siya magnakaw. Basta ibigay natin P500," Duterte said during the ceremonial signing of three measures into law in Malacañang.

"I hope this will go a long way to help. Huwag sayangin sa e-sabong," he added. 

Duterte said P200 was not enough. He told Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez to look for funding so that the cash aid could be increased to P500 a month.

"I'd like to announce, sabi ko kay Sonny, on the ground, iyong feedback sa ayuda niya na P200. Sabi ko sa kanya, it is too small sa isang buwan, hanap ka [ng] pera. Masyadong mababa 'yan," Duterte said.

"It is not enough for a family of three, even four or five, iyong sa baba ang pinakaramaraming anak," he added.

He told Dominguez to use all the money available to fund the P500 monthly allowance and let the next administration deal with consequences.

"It will be an uphill battle," Duterte said. —NB, GMA News