Duterte wants 23 million poor families to get 2nd tranche of cash aid

Long lines of Social Amelioration Program beneficiaries form in a school ground in Barangay Tatalon, Quezon City in this photo taken last May 5, 2020.  President Duterte wants all 23 million low-income families to benefit from the second tranche of the distribution of financial aid in GCQ and ECQ areas due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)pandemic. GRIG C.MONTEGRANDE

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte wants all 23 million low-income families in general community quarantine (GCQ) and enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) areas to receive the second tranche of  the government’s cash subsidy, Malacañang said Friday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the President wants the budget department to look into funds that could be realigned to cover all poor households in the emergency subsidy.

“Ang una niyang sinabi sa akin, sabihan si Secretary Wendel Avisado ng DBM, ang ginamit po niyang salita, ‘tuliin,’ tuliin nang mabuti yung mga budget ng mga line agencies para malaman kung ano yung mga pondo na pupuwede ma-realign at ang gusto talaga ni Presidente, bagamat pinag-aaralan pa, ay mabigyan ng ayuda lahat ng 23 million, whether be it GCQ or ECQ,” Roque said in an interview on dzMM.

(The President  instructed me to tell Budget Secreatry Avisado to scrutinize the budget of line agencies and identify funds that can be realigned, hr really wants all 23 million poor families to receive financial aid from the government.)

Roque said the President also asked Congress to help him look for funds to cover all 23 million families in the social amelioration program’s second tranche for the month of May.

“Pangalawa, pinarating din po niya sa Kongreso, tulungan niyo po ang ating Presidente kung paano niya mabibigyan ng ayuda ang lahat ng 23 million [families],” Roque said.

(He also sought the assistance of Congress to find ways to extend  assistance to the 23 million families.)

“Pangatlo, nabanggit pa niya na magsisimula na syang magbenta ng mga propiedad ng gobyerno at meron siyang isang nasabing property, ayaw ko po muna isapubliko pero sabi niya, yun siguro ang sisimulan nating ibenta para maibigay sa ayuda,” he added.

(He also mentioned selling government assest to help fund the financial assistance program.. He already mentioned one property/asset, which I cannot, at this time, reveal.)

In an earlier public address, Duterte raised the possibility of selling government assets should funding for efforts to fight the coronavirus run out.

Duterte earlier approved the inclusion of additional five million families that will benefit from the first tranche of the financial aid program amid the coronavirus disease  2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

This is on top of the 18 million low-income families that will be given a P5,000 to 8,000 financial assistance for two months under a P200-billion budget in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

Due to limited funds, the second tranche was limited to families living in areas under ECQ.

“Kung itutuloy po yung kagustuhan ni Presidente na lahat ay bigyan ng ayuda, ibig sabihin ang kakailanganin po natin talaga ay P257.7 billion. So clearly, we are P51 billion short kung lahat po sila ay bibigyan ng ayuda,” Roque said.

GSG