As of 12:00 p.m. on Monday, the DSWD reported 16.1 million beneficiaries have received cash aid under the government’s social amelioration program, amounting to ₱90.56 billion disbursed. This represents 89.42 percent of the total 18 million qualified households.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 11) — At least 369 local government units — or around 22 percent of all cities and municipalities — failed to meet the deadline to complete distribution of the first tranche of the national government’s cash aid program, the Department of Interior and Local Government said Monday.
This was despite the nearly 91 percent national payout rate as of Sunday that was announced by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. That meant only nine percent of total funds for the first tranche remain undistributed at the time.
DILG Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya told CNN Philippines the 369 LGUs have yet to complete their distribution past Sunday, the deadline for the first phase of the social amelioration program. As of 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, 77.42 percent or 1,265 out of 1,634 LGUs have completed the rollout.
With this progress, nine out of 10 beneficiary families have received the cash aid from the government, Malaya said.
Of the 1,265 LGUs that have completed the payout, 120 are in the Ilocos Region; 107 in Central Luzon; 112 in Bicol Region; and 71 in Calabarzon.
Meanwhile, those who were not able to beat the deadline can continue to distribute them to their constituents, unless the Department of Social Welfare and Development demands for the return of the funds, Malaya said.
“Our advise to LGUs that are not yet finished is to continue with SAP distribution even after the deadline,” he added.
“The show cause order that will be issued to the LGU is not only their accountability to the DILG but most importantly to their constituents. Kailangan nilang ipaliwanag kung ano-ano ang mga problema’t balakid kung bakit ‘di sila umabot sa deadline (They must explain what were the difficulties they encountered in the distribution which prevented them from meeting the deadline),” Año said in a statement.
The agency said 183 barangay officials are currently under investigation for alleged corruption in distributing cash aid.
“Binabalaan ko kayo, kung nag-iisip kayo na mangulimbat ng mga tulong na para sa mga kabarangay ninyo (We are warning you, if you are thinking of stealing from the funds intended for your constituents), we will come after you,” Año added.
The DILG urged the public to report barangay and local officials for incidents of graft and corruption through the government hotline 8888. The agency is coordinating with Philippine National Police stations in receiving these reports.
DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vicente Tomas said Monday that local government units in Metro Manila have another three days, or until Wednesday, May 13 to complete SAP distribution.
The cities of Caloocan and Manila reported 100 percent distribution rate on Sunday, being the only two LGUs in the national capital region who beat the deadline.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said separately that local executives should continue handing out cash subsidies until the unreleased money is demanded to be returned to the DSWD. He added that President Rodrigo Duterte has not made a decision yet on changes to the beneficiaries of cash aid, as well as on the proposal to add 5 million families to the list.
“Kung kinakailangan talagang magbigay ng ayuda sa mga lugar na merong ECQ (enhanced community quarantine), hahanap tayo ng pondo dahil syempre po, kapag sila’y manatili sa ECQ, hindi sila makakapag-hanapbuhay [If we really need to give cash aid to areas under ECQ, we need to look for funds because of course, if they stay under ECQ, people won’t be able to make a living],” Roque said in his Malacañang briefing.
Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the national government has allotted ₱200-billion-worth of aid for those most affected by COVID-19. Subsidy ranges from ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 per household per tranche, depending on the minimum wage level in a region. The first tranche was originally scheduled in April and the second one in May.
Roque earlier said that subsidies will be rechanneled to focus on poor families in areas that remain under enhanced community quarantine, given that most provinces have already reopened for businesses and workers.
The second tranche of doleouts for 18 million struggling households should be rolled out this month, he added.
The DILG earlier announced the second extension of the SAP distribution to May 10, as the national government initially targeted April 30 for the completion of the program. The DSWD is still waiting for the directive of Malacañang on the second tranche of SAP subsidies.
The DILG warned that it will start issuing show cause orders to the LGUs, starting with those which showed “very poor performance” in the distribution of the emergency subsidy.
CNN Philippines’ correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report.
