PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has approved the recommendation to add five million more families to the list of beneficiaries of the government’s social amelioration program (SAP).
In an online briefing on Tuesday, May 12, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the five million will be on top of the 18 million listed beneficiaries of the program.
“Naaprubahan na rin po, ‘yung rekomendasyon ng IATF na bigyan ang five million pang pamilya mula sa first tranche ng social amelioration program ng ating mga kababayan,” Roque said.
Roque, however, clarified that the second tranche of the cash aid will cover only families in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“Pero dahil limitado po ang pondong ibinigay ng Kongreso, ‘yung mabibigyan po sa second tranche ay ‘yun lamang nananatili sa ECQ na dineklara noong pangalawang buwan ng ating Pangulo,” he said.
Under the SAP, a cash grant of P5,000 to P8,000 a month is given to each of the 23 million families affected by the lockdown.
The areas under ECQ up to May 15, 2020 are the National Capital Region (NCR), Region 3 (except the province of Aurora), Region 4A, the provinces of Benguet, Cebu, Albay, Iloilo, and Pangasinan, and the cities of Bacolod, Zamboanga, and Davao.
From May 16 to May 31, the remaining areas under ECQ with modifications are NCR, Cebu City and Laguna. (SunStar Philippines)