MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte encouraged people on Monday to report to local officials if they have not received the government’s cash subsidy intended to help them cope with the impact of COVID-19.
“Governors, mayors, municipal mayors, city mayors, barangay captains — report to them. And it’s a matter of just using a cellphone,” Duterte, speaking partly in Filipino, said in a public address.
There have been some complaints of families saying they have yet to be reached by the government’s social amelioration program.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said families left out could lodge a complaint before the local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs).
The government has set aside about P200 billion for two-month cash subsidies for 18 million low-income households to help them cope with the effects of the strict quarantine measures in place.
The beneficiaries should receive subsidies that range from P5,000 to P8,000 per household per month, depending on the minimum wage rates in their respective regions.
/atm