Cops to enforce health protocols at remittance centers for SAP 2 distribution

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) ordered the nation’s police force to deploy their personnel to enforce health standards at remittance centers, where beneficiaries are claiming their second tranche of the government’s cash aid.

In a statement on Tuesday, DILG Undersecretary and spokesman Jonathan Malaya said Joint Task Force COVID Shield chief Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar will immediately field police officers to ensure that beneficiaries of the social amelioration program (SAP) 2 are maintaining physical distancing and using face masks at remittance centers.

“Our field offices have monitored long lines in some remittance centers, we advise them to practice social distancing at all times to protect themselves and their families. We are also urging the barangay to assign barangay tanods to remind the public of the minimum health standards together with the PNP (Philippine National Police),” Malaya said.

Aside from this, Malaya said they directed barangay quarantine rules supervisor, police COVID-19 focal person in a village, to manage barangay tanods implementing health rules to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

DILG reiterated its pronouncement that SAP 2 distribution will be using electronic platforms. But the cash aid will be distributed manually for those in rural and far-flung areas.

The agency said the distribution of the COVID-19 cash assistance is expected to be finished by Aug. 15.

As of Aug. 6, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said over 10.22 million families received the second tranche of cash assistance. [ac]