Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 10) – Nearly three million low-income households have not yet received cash assistance from the government, one of the departments spearheading the effort said.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Spokesperson Irene Dumlao told CNN Philippines on Sunday that only 15.2 million beneficiaries out of the target 18 million have received cash aid under the government’s social amelioration program.
“Total amount distributed so far is ₱85.2 billion,” Dumlao said in a message to CNN Philippines.
The national government initially set April 30 as the deadline for the distribution of cash assistance ranging from ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 for two months as part of its ₱200 billion social aid package to 18 million low-income families affected by the enhanced community quarantine being implemented in Metro Manila and other high-risk areas.
Citing challenges experienced by localities with high population density, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año granted a one-week extension from April 30 for them to finish the distribution, which in turn was re-extended to Sunday, May 10.
READ: Cash aid distribution extended until May 10
As of Sunday, the DSWD said at least 2.8 million beneficiaries have yet to receive the first tranche of the cash assistance package.
Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Sunday that almost a million informal workers are expected to benefit from the government’s emergency employment program.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier ordered the implementation of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced or Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program, a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment to help informal sector workers recover from economic displacement and loss of income amid the COVID-19 crisis.
Under the program, displaced, under-employed and seasonal workers will be temporarily hired for a minimum period of 10 days but not exceeding 30 days to help local government units in the delivery of essential goods and services, as well as sanitation and disinfection of communities, provided they strictly observe physical distancing protocols.
The program will start this month and run until June in areas under general community quarantine, according to Director of the Bureau of Workers with Special Concerns Karen Trayvilla.
Bello said the program is expected to benefit about 962,000 informal sector workers, while another ‘enhanced’ TUPAD program is being finalized as a component of the post-pandemic recovery package.
CNN Philippines’ correspondents Paolo Barcelon and AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
However, authorities assured that local government units are exerting extra efforts to meet the deadline, which is the midnight of May 10.
The Regional Daily Report revealed that 1,145,117 households out of the more than 1.5 million target beneficiaries in Metro Manila have received the first tranche of cash aid under the social amelioration program, as of Saturday evening.
The cities of Caloocan and Manila have reported 100 percent distribution rate for all cash aid beneficiaries, followed by Paranaque City at 97.57 percent, Valenzuela City at 95.99 percent, and Mandaluyong City at 94.69 percent.
