Jeepney drivers are among those gravely affected by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine to arrest the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19). —WILLIE LOMIBAO
aMANILA, Philippines — Public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and conductors were still able to receive financial aid as part of the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) as several Land Bank of the Philippines branches in Metro Manila remained open on Maundy Thursday morning.
The state-run bank offered services from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon to accommodate SAP beneficiaries claiming the emergency subsidy, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
A tripartite memorandum between Land Bank, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) signed on April 3 enabled the government to provide cash assistance under SAP.
About 18 million low-income Filipino families are set to receive P200 billion worth of cash aid under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act. Those qualified as beneficiaries will get between P5,000 to P8,000; the amounts will be based on the prevailing wage rates in the regions where the beneficiaries live.
The DSWD meanwhile has already issued checks for the month of April to local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila who have completed the requirements for SAP.
Around 3.6 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program have also received cash grants worth P13.6 billion since April 3.