READ: Pandemic may keep more Filipinos poor, jobless until next year – NEDA
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, September 10) — Cash assistance will be a thing of the past in the proposed national budget for 2021 as the government has no plans of reimposing massive lockdowns, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said on Thursday.
The pending Bayanihan to Recover as One Act is hinged on the same principle, Roque said in a media briefing. The focus has shifted to livelihood and loan assistance for low-income households, he added.
“In other words, tapos na po ‘yung pagbibigay lamang ng ayuda dahil hindi na po natin plano na magkaroon ng malawakang lockdowns,” Roque said.
[Translation: In other words, the practice of giving cash aid is over since we do not plan to have massive lockdowns.]
President Rodrigo Duterte placed Luzon under the strictest enhanced community quarantine in March and April, prompting the distribution of billions of pesos of cash aid under the Social Amelioration Program since many were unable to work. Despite the rise in COVID-19 infections, quarantine measures were gradually eased as officials reopened the economy.
Congress is now hearing the proposed ₱4.506-trillion National Expenditure Program for 2021.
Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said on Wednesday SAP is non-existent next year. Meanwhile, the Department of Labor and Employment said workers who lost their jobs to the pandemic will still receive a one-time cash aid in the budget plan.
