Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 8) – The Department of Social Welfare and Development targeted on Wednesday the complete distribution of COVID-19 emergency subsidies before weekend.
Speaking to CNN Philippines’ Balitaan, Speaking to CNN Philippines’ Pinky Webb, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao gave the projection but also admitted there are some hitches in the distribution of the emergency subsidies.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año told CNN Philippines’ News Night that a second rollout of cash aid for some four million more families who are not included in the DSWD’s initial list will happen soon.
“We are also looking some operational issues such as manpower, compliment, and distribution strategies,” said Dumlao.
Despite these issues, Dumlao added the department is still committed in providing assistance to the intended beneficiaries.
“We will be providing the assistance to our constituents or to our target beneficiaries in the most efficient and effective manner,” she assured.
Among the key provisions of the Bayanihan to Heal as One law, which gave Duterte special powers, is the provision of a ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 monthly allowance for two months to indigent families.
The DSWD allotted ₱200 billion emergency fund for the cash aid and started to distribute the subsidies to qualified families last April 3.
But some Metro Manila mayors raised doubts on the DSWD’s initial target.
Dumlao also bared that more than ₱16 billion worth of emergency subsidies have been given to target beneficiaries.
Most of the beneficiaries belong to the agency’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the National Capital Region.
Dumlao assured those who are not members of the program are next in line in the distribution of the emergency subsidy, as identified by their respective local government units.
“We did not stop. We will guarantee that the needed assistance will be delivered to the most affected families,” she sai.
“‘Yung hindi nabibigyan ay iko-consolidate ng ating LGUs (local government units) at isa-submit ulit at makakatanggap din sila,” Año said. “Madaling makita at mahanap yung wala sa listahan na ‘yan because mostly are actually in Metro Manila and in Calabarzon area.”
When asked if the target is doable, Makati Mayor Abby Binay said she’s not in any position to say “considering that there is no money to distribute.”
[Translation: Those who have not yet been given aid will be consolidated in a list by the LGUs which they will submit and they will also receive aid … They would be easy to spot those who are not in the DSWD’s list because most are in Metro Manila and Calabarzon.]
Binay said she has been waiting for the funds to be transferred the past few days following the submission of requirements to the DSWD.
Valenzuela City Mayor Rex Gatchalian added the DSWD has yet to answer the Metro Manila mayors’ concerns over the correct number of beneficiaries in their areas.
Like Makati, he says the funds for the emergency subsidy is not yet with Valenzuela.
“We keep on querying and their answers remain the same, that they’re still threshing out or ‘harmonizing’,” Gatchalian told CNN Philippines over the phone.
Dumlao told CNN Philippines that their agency has not yet received the resolution made by Metro Manila mayors regarding the reinstatement of the original number of target beneficiaries for the cash aid.
“The department will carefully review all the issues and recommendations they raised in the resolution,” she guaranteed.
