Duterte OK’d add’l 4 million Covid-19 aid beneficiaries

By Prince Golez

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the grant of cash aid under the social amelioration program to four million more Filipinos affected by the coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak, his spokesman said.

Under Republic Act 11469 or “Bayanihan to Heal as One Act,” about 18 million low-income households will be targeted to receive emergency cash of 5,000 to P8,000 for two months to help them mitigate the socio-economic impact of the health crisis.

“Dati 18 million lang yung dapat pagbibigyan, pero naging desisyon ni Presidente lahat po ng nangangailangan dapat bigyan. So, nadagdagan pa po ‘yang 18 million na ‘yan ng kung di ako nagkakamali, something like four million pa,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita Friday.

Yesterday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government granted a seven-day extension for the distribution of the first tranche of the cash aid in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Cebu City, and Davao City. Other LGUs with similar problems are given a four-day extension.

“Isa pa naging problema po ‘yan kasi kinailangan maghabol ng mga pangalan. Pero maaasahan namin dahil ito pong parating na buwan ay pangalawang buwan na, maiiwasan na po itong mga ganitong aberya at inaasahan namin na sa lalong mabilis na panahon ay maibigay na yung kabuuan ng first tranche sa lahat ng dapat makakatanggap nito,” Roque also said.

Source: Latest Politics News Today (Politics.com.ph)