Duterte considered granting cash aid to GCQ areas —Roque

President Rodrigo Duterte has ordered Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado to find funding source for a possible cash aid to qualified beneficiaries in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) amid the COVID-19 threat, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Friday.

Roque was referring to emergency cash aid of P5,000 to P8,000 to each of the 23 million low-income families under the second tranche of the social amelioration program in response to the health emergency.

Targeted for the first tranche were the 18 million low-income families nationwide for the month of April, but the number of beneficiaries has since been increased to 23 million.

However, the government said that the second tranche of the emergency cash subsidy will only be for qualified families in areas under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ)

Metro Manila, the province of Laguna and Cebu City have been placed under a modified enhanced community quarantine from May 16 to 31.

“Nakapag-usap kami kagabi ni Presidente, at inatasan niya si Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado na tuliin ang budget, meaning hanapin sa budget ng agencies kung may puede ire-align para sa second tranche [para sa GCQ areas],” Roque said.

“Pag-aaralan kung kakayanin na isama ang GCQ areas sa second tranche. Hanggang dun na lang muna,” Roque added.

Roque, however, could not say if the amount of cash aid for GCQ areas will still range from P5,000 to P8,000, depending on the minimum wage rate of the region.

“Titingnan pa po natin,” Roque added.

In a separate statement, Roque said Duterte will seek the assistance of Congress in looking for additional funding for the second tranche of the emergency subsidy program.

“President Duterte's vow that no one goes hungry amid the current global health crisis remains firm and unchanged,” Roque said.

Under the GCQ status, businesses are allowed to reopen with only 75 percent of the workforce, except for those industries where physical distancing is not feasible like barber shops, salons, contact sports, sporting events and religious gatherings.

Mass transport is also allowed under GCQ, but on a scaled-down mode to be able to observe social distancing. Mass transport remains prohibited in areas under MECQ.

Industries are also allowed to operate in areas under MECQ, but only with 50 percent of the workforce back.

As of May 14, the Philippines has recorded 11,876 COVID-19 cases as of May 14. Of this number, 2,337 recovered while 790 died. —Llanesca T. Panti, with a report from Virgil Lopez/LBG, GMA News