Makabayan solons urge faster distribution of cash subsidies

Makabayan Bloc lawmakers on Monday called on the government to fast-track the distribution of emergency cash subsidies to low-income households affected by the ongoing threat of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

In a statement, Bayan Muna party-list Representative Eufemia Cullamat lamented the delay in the delivery of the P5,000 to P8,000 emergency cash subsidies to 18 million families nationwide.

She cited the first report of President Rodrigo Duterte to Congress on the acts performed under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, which stated that the government was still finalizing the list of families who would benefit from the emergency subsidy program.

"Mahigit dalawang linggo na ang enhanced community quarantine pero nasa pagtutukoy pa rin tayo ng benepisyaryo. Gutom na ang mga tao. Bilisan na dapat ang pagaabot ng ayuda sa maralita. Napakatagal pang proseso ang pagtutukoy gayong may mga dating listahan na ang mga ahensya," she said.

Bayan Muna party-list Representative Carlos Zarate said the process could be fast-tracked if the government would identify those who were exempted from the program as they were fewer and easier to count.

"Instead of identifying the 18 million families eligible, might as well, reverse the process. Government should identify the houses of those families belonging to the rich and the richest of the rich, that are not eligible for the assistance. This will practically result in almost all families or all houses on almost all communities to be eligible to the social assistance," he said.

Zarate also slammed the earlier pronouncement of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that the emergency cash subsidy to be given to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) would be given as a whole but only as a top-up to what they already receive under the program.

"If a 4Ps beneficiary receives P3,000 and the total amount of food packs is P2,500, wala na siyang matatanggap na social amelioraton card, may utang pa sila sa gobyerno. Panahon na para unahin ng gobyerno ang kapanan ng mahihirap at hindi yung sila pa nag nagpapahirap," he said.

For her part, ACT Teachers party-list Representative France Castro said the government should do away with asking many requirements to prove that a beneficiary indeed needed help in order to streamline the process.

"We suggest that families of 4Ps beneficiaries be given the maximum P8,000. We also suggest giving the maximum per household in urban poor communities, and with the least requirement like proof of residency," she said.

"Hindi ito panahon para tipirin ang mamamayan—Tutal, hindi tinipid ang pangulo sa kapangyarihan over the budget. Napakalawak ng kapangyarhan niya to realign 2019 and 2020 budgets pati off-budget funds," she added.

Meanwhile, Gabriela Women's Party Representative Arlene Brosas stressed the importance of a strong partnership between the national government and local government units to hasten the distribution of cash assistance to the intended beneficiaries.

“There should be a partnership between the national government and the local government in fast tracking the distribution of the emergency aid. Ang nangyayari ngayon nakasalalay pa sa LGUs ang pagpapabilis ng implementasyon gayong limitado ang resources nila at hindi malinaw ang ibinigay na guidelines,” she said.

At the same time, Brosas said the government should also clarify if all families in the country would fill out the Social Amelioration Card form or only those living in target areas.

"Matatapos na ang lockdown hindi pa rin nakakatanggap ng ayuda ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan. Kapag hindi pa nakumpleto ng gobyerno ang pagbibigay ng cash assistance bago matapos ang lockdown, hindi na assistance yan: abuloy na ang tawag diyan,” she said.

DWSD spokesperson Dir. Irene Dumlao on Sunday said the DSWD had started giving out the cash subsidy for qualified beneficiaries, whether they were part of the 4Ps or not. — DVM, GMA News