Palace: Even if Bayanihan law expires, 2nd tranche of cash aid to proceed

MANILA, Philippines — The second tranche of the government’s cash assistance program will proceed even if the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act expires this month, Malacañang assured the public Monday.

During an online briefing, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said the June 25 expiration of the law will not affect the distribution of the cash aid to low-income families.

“Sa mga nagtatanong, mahihinto po ba ang ayuda ng pamahalaan? Hindi po. Tuloy po ang second tranche ng ayuda kahit kailan pa nag-expire ang Bayanihan Act,” Roque said.

(To those who are asking whether the government’s cash aid will stop, it will not. The second tranche of cash aid will proceed even with the Bayanihan Act’s expiration.)

“Hindi po apektado ng expiration yan dahil yung obligasyon at yung pera ay naririyan naman po,” he added.

(That is not affected by the expiration because the obligation and the money are already there.)

Under the government’s cash assistance program, some 18 million families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will be given cash aid of P5,000 to 8,000 for the months of April and May.

In an earlier briefing, Roque said 17 million poor families will be included in the second round of cash aid.

Of the figure, 12 million families came from areas that were under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) or modified ECQ until May 15 while the five million new names were approved by President Rodrigo Duterte to be included as beneficiaries.

Roque said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is already verifying the names of the additional beneficiaries.

“Sa ngayon po ang DSWD nagsasagawa ng validation ng mga naisumiteng listahan, ito po yung additional 5 million na pangalan kung saan sinusuri po nila upang matiyak na karapat dapat at kwalipikado ang beneficiaries base sa umiiral na guidelines,” he said.

(Right now, DSWD is already validating the list of additional 5 million names. They are ensuring that these names qualify as beneficiaries under the guidelines.)