To most in need

Traditional government aid beneficiaries such as those under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) may have already felt the additional figures in their usual monthly benefits. With government database already in place, they are the ones who are getting the funds from RA 11469 or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act first.

Beneficiaries of the social amelioration package (SAP), those from the informal sector (daily wage earners, vendors, etc.), may have to wait until the regional Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local government units (LGUs) sort out their list of beneficiaries.

In a recent press briefing, the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) emphasized the SAP distribution rules.

The 4P beneficiaries no longer fall under what RA 11469 defines as “informal sector.” Families with a 4P beneficiary will no longer qualify for the SAP. Only one member of a family gets either of the benefits, being a 4P beneficiary or a SAP qualifier. This is also true for a family with more than one member qualifying for the SAP (eg. husband is construction worker, wife a vendor); just one SAP for entire family.

Formal sector workers get their assistance through the Department of Labor and Employment under the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program (Camp). In a recent press briefing, IATF spokesperson Karlo Nograles said the Dole is mulling budget on top of the P5,000 assistance to workers.

Nograles warned LGU officials and individuals who try to mar equity in the distribution will have their day when the Commission on Audit reviews the figures after this crisis.

“Hindi poi to para sa may kaya na po (This is not for those who have the means),” he said.