Bank accounts for fuel subsidy beneficiaries

SEN. Sherwin Gatchalian on Saturday recommended to the Department of Agriculture (DA) the opening of bank accounts for the beneficiaries of the fuel subsidy program to expedite the distribution of cash aid to farmers and fisherfolk and to jumpstart their financial inclusion and access to credit.

The reelectionist senator likened the idea to his proposed Senate Bill (SB) 2251 or the "One Filipino, One Bank Account Act," which seeks to mandate government banks to create and maintain an account for every unbanked Filipino, free from any opening and maintenance fees or charges.