Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 25) — Authorities can begin distributing the second tranche of cash aid to millions of families severely affected by the coronavirus crisis, Malacañang said on Monday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the distribution of the second batch of financial assistance through the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to 17 million families should be underway after Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued the memorandum on May 22.
“Puwede na pong ipamahagi ang second tranche ng SAP. So kasama na po diyan ‘yung 5 milyon mga bagong pangalan na bibigyan po ng ayuda at ‘yung 12 milyon na dati na pong nakakuha ng ayuda during the first tranche. Dapat po patuloy na po ang proseso, umuusad na,” Roque said in a virtual briefing.
[Translation: The second tranche of the SAP can be distributed now. That will include 5 million new beneficiaries and the 12 million families who initially received financial help during the first tranche. The process should be moving along.]
The Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with the Department of Information and Communications Technology and the National Privacy Commission, was tasked to expedite the creation of an online portal with the list of all eligible beneficiaries of the cash aid program.
Members of the Armed Forces will lead the second tranche of distribution.
Low-income families are entitled to ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 worth of assistance for April and May under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act.
As earlier announced, priority would be given to households under enhanced community quarantine and modified ECQ. The Palace memorandum clarified that “households most affected by the continuing restrictions in the operation of certain industries and sectors in areas under a general community quarantine may still be considered for the second tranche.”
The list is subject to validation by national government agencies and local government units, according to the order signed by Medialdea.
Much of the country is under general community quarantine, while Cebu City and Mandaue City are under enhanced community quarantine. Metro Manila and the provinces of Bataan, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Pampanga and Zambales are under MECQ — considered as a transition phase toward the more relaxed GCQ.
