By Chito Chavez
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya on Wednesday clarified that low-income families residing in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) who were included in the first wave of recipients will no longer receive cash benefits under the social amelioration program (SAP) in the second tranche even if not all workplaces in their area are open.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya,
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The pronouncement will hopefully put an end to conflicting interpretations on the implementation of relief assistance from the government. “Wala na ba pong aasahang ayuda ang mga nasa GCQ kahit hindi naman po lahat ng trabaho ay bukas na sa mga ito (The people in areas under GCQ cannot expect any more cash aid even if not all workplaces are open),’’ Malaya said. Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced that those in the GCQ areas who have received the first tranche of the SAP grants will no longer receive cash aid under the same program. But Malaya noted that the qualified beneficiaries left out in the first wave of the cash aid even if they are in areas under the GCQ will still get financial assistance as announced by Roque. In Roque’s announcement, Malaya said that the President has approved the financial aid for an additional 5 million Filipinos who were left out in the first tranche whether they are in areas under the ECQ or GCQ. Malaya said this is good news for the numerous calls where complaints about not receiving cash aids in the first wave, being out of job, lack of SAP forms and going hungry due to none employment has flooded the DILG. With regards to the distribution of SAP aids, Malaya said that latest reports revealed that 96 percent of the qualified beneficiaries got their financial assistance. He noted that this translates to nine out of the 10 intended beneficiaries have received their cash grants although the DILG had noted the snail-pace distribution of the SAP aid by some LGUs. For the LGUs that failed to beat the May 10 SAP distribution deadline, Malaya said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año will issue not less than 30 show-cause orders to the non-complying mayors.
DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya,(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) The pronouncement will hopefully put an end to conflicting interpretations on the implementation of relief assistance from the government. “Wala na ba pong aasahang ayuda ang mga nasa GCQ kahit hindi naman po lahat ng trabaho ay bukas na sa mga ito (The people in areas under GCQ cannot expect any more cash aid even if not all workplaces are open),’’ Malaya said. Earlier, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced that those in the GCQ areas who have received the first tranche of the SAP grants will no longer receive cash aid under the same program. But Malaya noted that the qualified beneficiaries left out in the first wave of the cash aid even if they are in areas under the GCQ will still get financial assistance as announced by Roque. In Roque’s announcement, Malaya said that the President has approved the financial aid for an additional 5 million Filipinos who were left out in the first tranche whether they are in areas under the ECQ or GCQ. Malaya said this is good news for the numerous calls where complaints about not receiving cash aids in the first wave, being out of job, lack of SAP forms and going hungry due to none employment has flooded the DILG. With regards to the distribution of SAP aids, Malaya said that latest reports revealed that 96 percent of the qualified beneficiaries got their financial assistance. He noted that this translates to nine out of the 10 intended beneficiaries have received their cash grants although the DILG had noted the snail-pace distribution of the SAP aid by some LGUs. For the LGUs that failed to beat the May 10 SAP distribution deadline, Malaya said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año will issue not less than 30 show-cause orders to the non-complying mayors.