Cash aid distribution (File photo) MANILA - Marikina Representative Stella Quimbo on Tuesday called for the immediate distribution of cash aid, as she warned that the soaring inflation rates could plunge over 2 million more Filipinos into poverty. During the briefing by the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) for the House Committee on Appropriations, Quimbo said the potential PHP11.9-billion additional collection from value-added tax (VAT) from higher prices of goods in January can be tapped to help Filipinos cope with the high inflation. Quimbo cited a study by the Asian Development Bank which estimated that 10 percent food inflation rate pushes an additional 2.3 million people into poverty. "With an 11.2 percent food inflation rate that we are currently experiencing, nadagdagan ng 2.58 million ang bilang ng mga mahihirap na Pilipino (there would be 2.58 million more poor Filipinos)," Quimbo said. Quimbo said due to the impact of food price increases, local pro