MANILA (AFP) ¡ª President Gloria Arroyo is set to approve a 500-peso subsidy to four million of the poorest families in the Philippines to help them cope with soaring food and fuel prices, aides said Monday.

Top aides proposed a specific list of measures that fleshed out a four billion-peso package of direct cash transfers as well as indirect support to the poor that was approved by the cabinet last week, they said.

The aides agreed on a one-off 500-peso (13-dollar) "subsidy for small electrical users," Social Welfare Secretary Esperanza Cabral told reporters, adding that four million families would receive the cash.

"The final approval will be given by the president, but she has given out instructions for the department of budget to make available the amount," Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said.

The government will also offer a billion pesos to poor students -- half in scholarships and half in loans, said Romulo Neri, a senior education official.

"The targets really are the students coming from poor families so this will help them also tide their expenses during these hard times," he added.

The government says the poor have been the hardest hit as rice and petroleum prices have soared to record levels this year. About 23.5 million Filipinos -- a quarter of the population -- earn 67 pesos or less a day.

The Philippines, one of the world's largest importers of the staple rice grain, is struggling to build up stocks.

Earlier Monday, Arroyo said the government would no longer require students to wear uniforms to school to help ease pressure on family budgets.

More than 20 million pupils are scheduled to return to school next week after a two-month break.