PRESIDENTIAL spokesperson Harry Roque said on Saturday, May 30, that no more cash assistance will be distributed in June, following the relaxation of quarantine protocols in the country.
“Itong buwan ng Hunyo dahil lahat po tayo ay nasa GCQ [general community quarantine] na ay wala pong ayuda,” he said in a televised press briefing.
Metro Manila, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Central Visayas, Davao City and Pangasinan will shift to GCQ on June 1.
The rest of the country will shift to the more relaxed modified general community quarantine (MGCQ) in preparation for the new normal.
Roque clarified that the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) cash subsidy will still be distributed in areas that remained under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and modified ECQ for the month of May.
“Lilinawin ko po, ‘yung pangalawang buwan ng ayuda sa SAP, P12 million po ‘yan, ibibigay pa rin doon sa mga nakatira sa mga lugar na nanatiling ECQ or MECQ,” he said.
The national government, through the Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, had allotted P200 billion to provide financial assistance of P5,000 to P8,000 per month to help poor families cope with the crisis caused by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
The program initially benefited 18 million families. An additional five million families were added to the list later.
The delay in the distribution of the second tranche was due to the pending liquidation of the first tranche by the local government units.
The Department of the Interior and Local Government earlier set March 28 as the deadline for the liquidation of SAP funds.
Liquidation reports should have been submitted to the local Social and Welfare offices along with the encoded list of the beneficiaries.
“Only then can we proceed with the 2nd tranche,” said DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya.
However, Malaya said the payout of the 2nd tranche of SAP cash aid would be more efficient and systematic considering that LGUs must have already learned their lessons and ironed out the kinks and lapses during the first payout. (SunStar Philippines)