P75.3B of cash aid already given to 13.7M families — DSWD

PROOF OF AID A social worker documents the distribution of cash aid to residents of Barangay San Isidro in Parañaque City by having them photographed—together with the wad of P8,000 cash. The government deadline for the distribution was Thursday but it was extended in some parts of the country. INQUIRER file photo / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday that P75.3-billion worth of government cash assistance had already been distributed to 13.7 million qualified families mostly affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

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Of the total number, P16.9 billion was released to 3,853, 574 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) families, the DSWD said, citing data released as of 8 p.m. of May 6.

Meanwhile, 9,757,616 beneficiaries received P58.1-billion worth of assistance disbursed by local government units.

And P323.3-million worth cash aid was distributed for transport network vehicle service drivers, as well as public utility drivers in the National Capital Region.

Under Republic Act 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal As One Act,” 18 million low-income families affected by the COVID-19  pandemic will benefit from the social amelioration program (SAP), as they will receive a cash subsidy ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 for two months, depending on prevailing regional minimum wages.

The national government has set P200 billion for the cash aid program.

Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) extended the deadline for local government units to distribute the cash assistance to May 10.

Metro Manila and other areas are under a period of enhanced community quarantine until May 15 due to rising COVID-19 cases. Other areas that were considered as “low-risk” for the viral disease were placed under general community quarantine.

As of Thursday, the Philippines has 10,343 COVID-19 cases, with 1,618 recoveries and 685 deaths.

JPV