Duterte orders DSWD to tap military for cash aid distribution

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to tap soldiers to ensure speedy distribution of the emergency subsidy for low-income households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Duterte issued the directive to Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista during a briefing with Cabinet officials which was aired by state-run PTV on Tuesday.

“You know, I had a nightmare, not only an experience in the distribution of the SAP [social amelioration program]. Sabi ko na nga noon, nakinig naman kayo sa akin, takot ako na baka makurakot ito. Takot ako na ma-cuttingan ito. Sabi ko, ‘baka.’ O nangyari nga. ‘Di nakita mo? ‘Di ba sinabi ko sa inyo?” he said.

“Ang order ko sa kanya, kanina nung nag-meeting kami na he will request na kapwa niya sundalo noon, eh retired na ‘to, that’s why he’s with the Cabinet na magpatulong siya sa Armed Forces pag-distribute ng pera.”

Bautista served as commander of the Philippine Army prior to being appointed to the top DSWD post.

In a separate statement, the Armed Forces of the Philippines said it would comply with the order and necessary adjustments will be made in the deployment.

“Hearing this directive from the commander-in-chief, our field commanders will institute necessary adjustments in our troops deployment,” AFP spokesman Brigadier General Edgard Arevalo said.

“We feel the expressed desire of the President to provide immediate intervention measures to address the need to bring amelioration assistance to the people forthwith,” he added.

Around 18 million low-income families were targeted to receive monthly cash subsidies ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 for two months as mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

A total of 1,265 LGUs nationwide were able to meet the May 10 deadline set by the government in distributing the first tranche of the emergency cash aid, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said Monday.

The distribution of the first tranche was supposed to be finished on April 30 but the government extended this due to reasons such as harassment and threats to DSWD personnel, limited manpower and time needed by local government units to validate the list of target beneficiaries. — with Anna Felicia Bajo/RSJ, GMA News