Afp, Manila, The Daily Star, 04 June 2008

 

With oil and food prices at record levels Philippine President Gloria Arroyo launched a programme Tuesday to help the country’s poor pay their electricity bills, aides said.

The “lifeline aid” programme, limited to about four million poor households, will see families receive a one-off payment of 500 pesos (13 dollars) to help meet rising electricity costs, Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral told reporters.

Arroyo said the government is giving back to the poorest families sales taxes on the use of electricity and other goods and services.

“Due to (the sales tax), the government has more funds for infrastructure and social services,” she said in a speech.