The Cabinet has recently approved a modification to the termite subsidy amounts under the Termite Subsidy Programme, aiming to enhance support for a broader range of applicants. The new provisions will offer $2,000 to households earning less than $30,000, a decrease from the previous amount of $5,000. For households with a combined income of $30,000 and above, the subsidy will be set at $1,000, down from $2,000.
This adjustment is intended to extend assistance to more applicants, offering relief to eligible homeowners for repair and reconstruction efforts related to damages caused by ant infestation. To support this initiative, the government allocated $2.9 million in the 2025-2026 budget, in addition to the $5 million already spent since the programme’s inception.
Assistant Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, Sakiusa Tubuna, highlighted in a recent address to Parliament that over the last two financial years, 807 households have benefited from the Termite Control Assistance Programme (TCAP), collectively receiving aid valued at $3,990,000. According to parliamentary data, the 2023–2024 financial year saw 448 households assisted at a cost of $2,213,000, where 439 households with incomes below $30,000 received a total of $2,195,000 in assistance. Additionally, 9 households earning between $30,000 and $50,000 received $18,000.
For the 2024–2025 financial year, 357 households received support totaling $1,777,000, with the majority, 353 households, being in the lower-income bracket, receiving $1,765,000, while 4 households in the $30,000–$50,000 income range received $12,000.
This strategic shift in funding aims to ensure that more households can access much-needed assistance, helping to mitigate the impact of AST damage for those who may be most vulnerable.