4 million more beneficiaries added to gov’t cash aid program – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte has approved the inclusion of an additional four million beneficiaries under the government’s social amelioration program, Malacañang said Friday.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said this will be in addition to the existing 18 million low-income families targeted to receive the cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Lilinawin ko rin kasi dati, 18 million lang ‘yung dapat pagbibigyan. Ngayon, nagdesisyon po ang Presidente, lahat po ng nangangailangan dapat bigyan. Nadagdagan pa po ‘yang 18 million na ‘yan, kung hindi ako nagkakamali, something like 4 million pa,” Roque said in an interview over GMA.

(Let me also clear that before, beneficiaries are only at 18 million. Now, the President decided that all of those who are in need will be included. Another 4 million was added to the 18 million, if I am not mistaken.)

“’Yun ‘yung figure talaga na nagugutom based on current data at hindi ‘yung 2015 data pa,” he added.

(That figure of those who experience hunger is based on current data and not the 2015 data.)

The government has set aside P196 billion for low-income families who are affected by the impact of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

The target beneficiaries would receive subsidies ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 per household, depending on the minimum wage rates in their respective regions.

Earlier, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) granted a seven-day extension for the distribution of cash subsidies in Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Cebu City, and Davao City. Local government units (LGUs) other than those mentioned are given a four-day extension.

LGUs were earlier given until April 30 to complete the first tranche of cash assistance distribution to qualified beneficiaries in their respective areas.

As of Thursday, DSWD said over 10 million families have already received the cash aid totaling to P53.8 billion under the social amelioration program.

KGA

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