Gov’t apologizes for delay in cash aid distribution

MANILA, Philippines — The government on Monday apologized to the public for the delay in the distribution of the emergency subsidy, assuring beneficiaries waiting for their benefits that they will receive their cash aid to help tide them over in the midst of the coronavirus crisis.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles, spokesman of the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) on Emerging and Infectious Disease, said the government, through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is now working on resolving the concerns hounding the distribution of the multi-billion cash aid such as security, the reconciliation of lists of beneficiaries, and logistical challenges.

“Tuloy-tuloy po silang nakikipag-ugnayan sa ating mga LGU (local government units) para po matugunan lahat ito,” Nograles said in a virtual press briefing.

“Sa ating mga kababayan na naghihintay po para sa mga subsidies na ito, humihingi po kami ng paumanhin at pasensya – nguni’t makakaasa po kayo na ginagawa po natin ang lahat ng ating makakaya upang mapaabot ito sa inyo ang tulong na ito sa lalong madaling panahon,” he added.

The government has set aside P200 billion worth of cash aid for its social amelioration program to be distributed to about 18 million low-income households, half of which has already been disbursed and are currently being distributed.

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The beneficiaries are to receive subsidies of P5,000 to P8,000 per household monthly for two months. It is being implemented to help families affected by the Luzon-wide lockdown imposed to stop the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the country.

According to Nograles, the government is now at about 50 percent distribution of the first tranche of the emergency subsidy.

The Palace official then called on the LGUs to submit the signed memorandum of agreement and budget proposal to the DSWD so the emergency subsidies can be distributed soon.