ELEVEN members of the House of Representatives have filed House Bill No. 10648, or the Pambansang Agapay sa Pamilya at Maliliit na Negosyo (PAMANA) Act, aiming to provide qualified minimum wage families with ₱12,000 in annual assistance.
The measure seeks to bridge a critical gap in the nation’s social safety net by targeting working households that face rising living costs yet fall outside the reach of conditional cash transfer programs.
Under the proposal, eligible families will receive ₱1,000 per month disbursed through a digital wallet linked to the Philippine Identification System (PhilSys).
To prevent duplication, the assistance excludes current beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Coverage extends to private-sector minimum wage earners, comparable public-sector employees, and low-income informal workers registered through local social welfare offices.
Unlike traditional cash distribution, PAMANA features a unique dual-purpose mechanism designed to stimulate neighborhood economies.
Beneficiaries can spend up to ₱200 daily strictly at accredited local micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs)—such as sari-sari stores, public market stalls, carinderias, and neighborhood pharmacies.
The funds cannot be withdrawn as cash, transferred, or spent on non-essential items like online gambling, alcohol, or tobacco.
Lead author Rep. Jude Acidre emphasized that having a job does not automatically guarantee financial security against inflation.
Meanwhile, Rep. Francisco Paolo Ortega noted that channeling funds into local enterprises creates a multiplier effect, transforming social aid into revenue for small business owners who represent 99.5 percent of all Philippine establishments.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development will lead program administration alongside the DTI, BSP, DICT, PSA, and DOLE.
To ensure accessibility, beneficiaries without smartphones will receive QR-enabled cash cards or offline payment tools. Rep. Joel Chua highlighted that PhilSys-linked digital infrastructure will promote transparency, minimize fund leakage, and streamline distribution.
Estimated to cost between ₱64 billion and ₱68 billion annually—less than one percent of the proposed 2026 national budget—the program will be sustained through a dedicated PAMANA Trust Fund financed by digital service VAT collections and mining revenues.
The bill was introduced by Representatives Jude Acidre, Ziaur-Rahman Adiong, Joel Chua, Jannette Garin, Jefferson Khonghun, Gerville Luistro, Francisco Paolo Ortega, Terry Ridon, Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, David Suarez, and Ysabel Maria Zamora.
