By Genalyn Kabiling
Local government units must submit the list of beneficiaries of the emergency subsidy program in their areas of jurisdiction to the national government so they can avail themselves of the benefit at the soonest possible time, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles announced Wednesday.
Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles (Photo from Karlo Nograles / Facebook page / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)
The government has launched the P200-billion social amelioration program for low-income households to ease their burden from quarantine measures imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic. The two-month emergency support program is spearheaded by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
"Our local chief executives have already been advised of the need to submit the list of beneficiaries in their respective areas to the national government," Nograles said during a virtual press conference Wednesday.
"We urge the public to cooperate and work with their LGUs so that they can receive these subsidies at the soonest possible time," he said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development earlier announced that it started to distribute the social amelioration cards (SAC) to LGUs to determine the households who will benefit from the subsidy program. The SAC forms, which must be accomplished by the head of the family, will help validate which households will be qualified to receive the subsidy.
Nograles has urged the public to coordinate with the LGUs or visit the DSWD Facebook page on the guidelines about he social amelioration package.
"Hintayin lamang po ang hudyat o anunsyo ng inyong mga LGU hinggil sa takdang pagsisimula ng pamamahagi ng benepisyong ito. (Let's wait for the announcement of your LGUs on the start of the distribution of the benefits)," he added.
Under the social protection program, the government plans to distribute subsidy ranging between P5,000 to P8,000 to 18 million low-income families affected by the quarantine period for April and May. Nograles said the amount of the subsidy will depend on the minimum wage in their respective regions.
President Duterte recently announced the government's largest and widest social protection program in the nation's history to make up for the loss of economic opportunities due to quarantine measures.
Providing emergency aid to affected sectors is among the government measures to overcome and recover from the effect of the coronavirus pandemic, according to the President. The other priorities are securing facilities for resources for the health sector, and performing fiscal and monetary action for the economy.
The President has also warned officials against committing abuse and corruption during the operations to fight the coronavirus outbreak, saying they may face suspension and detention.
He threatened that he would authorize the release of detained individuals who embezzle funds and hoard essential items from detention only after the public emergency is over.
“Hindi ito panahon para kumita, hindi ito panahon ng pagsasamantala. (This is not the time to earn profits, this is not the time to take advantage of others),” he said during his public address last Monday night.