By Aaron Recuenco
The Joint Task Force Corona Virus Shield (JTF CV Shield) is now coordinating with the Department of the Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the distribution of cash assistance to the poor families adversely affected by the implementation of the home quarantine rules.
JTF CV Shield commander Police Lt. Gen. Guillermo Eleazar said that their role is to ensure the safety of social workers who would be tasked to distribute the cash assistance under the Social Amelioration Program and likewise see to it that the social distancing and other rules under the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) are observed.
Lt. Gen. Guillermo Lorenzo Eleazar
(PNP / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
“The instruction given to me by the Chief PNP, General Archie Gamboa, is to ensure orderly and ECQ rules-based distribution of the cash assistance for qualified beneficiaries,” said Eleazar.
President Duterte earlier instructed the police and the military to assist in the cash distribution as a way of expediting the assistance package amid complaints of slow government response to aid the most affected sectors of the society amid the government lockdowns to prevent the spread of the Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19).
Eleazar said that Gamboa has also instructed him to mobilize all police forces across the country to ensure the smooth flow of the cash assistance delivery.
“All unit commanders and chiefs of police down to the municipal and city levels have already been directed to start coordinating with the local offices of the DSWD in their respective areas of jurisdiction and map out plans to ensure the quick and smooth distribution of the cash assistance in their respective areas of responsibilities (AORs),” said Eleazar in a statement.
“The goal here is to ensure the security of the local social workers tasked to distribute the cash assistance while ensuring that the rules on social distancing and home quarantine are strictly observed for the health safety of both the DSWD and police personnel, and the beneficiaries and their respective families,” he added.
But Eleazar appealed to the public to continue observing the home quarantine rules and to observe patience.
“President Duterte has already given his word that this cash assistance will be distributed properly and in the soonest possible time—the main reason why he decided to cut the bureaucracy in the distribution by entrusting the cash assistance distribution to the DSWD, police and the military,” said Eleazar.
“On behalf of our Chief PNP, we assure the public that the President’s order will be done. In return, all we ask is for the people to respect the rules that will be implemented for the orderly and quick distribution of the cash assistance,” he added.
Eleazar, on the other hand, warned some groups and personalities from taking advantage of the cash assistance delivery to instigate the public to violate the home quarantine rules.
It was recalled that a small group of urban poor held a protest action in Quezon City on Wednesday to demand for food from the local government. At least 10 of them were arrested during the confrontation with the police.
“We will use the full force of the law to make sure that you will pay for any of your action that will compromise the security and health safety of not only the DSWD and PNP personnel, but also the people in the community,” said Eleazar.
“This is not the time for selfishness and other interests. Let us work together to help our kababayan who are in dire need of government assistance in this time crisis,” he added.