
Department of Social and Welfare Development Secretary Rolando Bautista announced that police and military officers will lead the distribution of the second tranche of the COVID-19 cash assistance, instead of the local government units.
It was President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to change the distribution means to ‘expedite’ the distribution of the second wave of the social amelioration program (SAP) for 23 million family beneficiaries.
The first tranche of the cash subsidy was intended for 18 million families, but Duterte approved the inclusion of five million additional families in the beneficiaries’ list last May 2.
“Meron na kaming initial coordination sa liderato ng AFP at saka PNP para makatulong sila sa pagbibigay ng ayuda, lalong lalo na sa mga geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” Bautista reported during the taped meeting with the President on Tuesday night.
[We already have initial coordination with the leadership of the AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) and PNP (Philippine National Police) to facilitate the distribution of cash aid, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.]
During the same meeting, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary (DILG) Eduardo Año announced the first wave of the distribution of COVID-19 emergency subsidy is nearing 97 percent complete.
Año added that distribution of the second tranche will use digital payment methods to further lessen physical contact among beneficiaries and authorities.
“Ine-expect natin na since merong mga remittance centers, may mga bangko, sa mga highly urbanized cities ay mapadali nating maibibgay ‘yung ayuda sa mga benepisyaryo,” said Bautista.
[We expect that since there are remittance centers and banks in highly urbanized cities, it will improve the process in giving the aid to the beneficiaries.]