DILG reminds LGUs to distribute social aid on or before April 30

MANILA, Philippines – Local government units (LGUs) have until April 30 to distribute the emergency subsidies to their constituents affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) , the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) reminded officials on Monday.

DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said the disbursement of financial grants under the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) must be fast-tracked to provide assistance to families reeling from the pandemic’s economic effects.

“Ibinaba na po ng Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ang pondo para sa SAP emergency subsidy sa mga LGUs kaya wala na pong dahilan para hindi iyan makarating sa ating mga kababayang kapos-palad ngayong panahon ng pandemya,” said Año.

“May kasabihan tayo na ‘aanhin pa ang damo kung patay na ang kabayo.’ Kaya’t ang bilin natin sa lahat ng LGUs ay bilisan ang pagbibigay natin sa kanila ng ayudang nanggaling sa pamahalaan,” he added.

The SAP, which was aimed at assisting 18 million families affected by lockdown measures, was brought by Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act of 2020. Under the law, low-income families would receive aid around P5,000 to P8,000, depending on the minimum wage per region.

After areas in Luzon and other regions were placed under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the rising COVID-19 cases, work except for frontline services was suspended.

However, this has placed workers who rely on daily earnings and those whose jobs cannot adjust to a work from home scheme without income through the lockdown.

According to Año, they have received reports that some low-income families have not yet received the financial assistance despite having filled up the essential forms.

DILG reminded the local governments that they must abide with the memorandum of agreement that they signed with the Department of Social Welfare and Development, which is in-charge of disbursing the funds.

“Magsisimula na tayo ng pamimigay ng second wave  ng SAP sa Mayo.  Let us ensure that all families left out who belong to the masterlist will also receive the emergency subsidy this time,” Año added.

As of April 19, DSWD has transferred P73 billion worth of social to LGUs, but an April 21 Philippine Daily Inquirer report showed that only P22 billion has been distributed. However, there are LGUs like Caloocan City, who claimed that some barangays have yet to turn over their lists of SAP beneficiaries.

The ECQ Luzon and other areas are still in place, with President Rodrigo Duterte including the national capital region and other adjacent areas in the ECQ extension until May 15.

The Department of Health said that there are now 7,777 patients infected with the coronavirus nationwide, of which 511 have died and 932 have recovered.  Worldwide, over 2.9 million individuals have been infected, while at least 206,502 have died from the disease and over 834,656 have recovered from it.

EDV