BANGKOK, Feb 10 (TNA) – About 370,000 people registered for 1,200-baht government handouts under the latest phase of the half-half co-payment scheme in two hours today.
Pornchai Thiraveja, director-general of the Fiscal Policy Office and spokesman for the Finance Ministry, said the registration started today for the people who had never participated in the co-payment scheme which already entered its fourth phase.
The registration of newcomers was set from 6am to 10pm daily until the 1 million remaining rights to the cost-of-living subsidy scheme were fully reserved. In two hours after the registration started this morning, about 370,000 people applied for the subsidy and about 630,000 rights remained available.
The half-half co-payment scheme was aimed at stimulating the economy. The government subsidized 50% of receipts for participants’ purchases at small shops and the subsidy was capped at 150 baht per day.
As of Feb 8, 21.17 million people exercised their rights under the fourth phase. They spent 8.27 billion baht while the government paid 8.06 billion baht. About 24.67 million participants from the third phase already confirmed their participation in the fourth phase. There had been 26.35 million beneficiaries in the third phase.
Newly registered participants can exercise their rights from Feb 17 to April 30. (TNA)
