Families in areas eventually placed under GCQ to get second tranche of COVID-19 cash aid —DSWD

An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday clarified that qualified beneficiaries in areas that were eventually placed under general community quarantine (GCQ) will still receive the second tranche of COVID-19 cash subsidy.

During the joint panel hearing at the House of Representatives on the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program, DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag said that their basis for the distribution of the second tranche of cash aid was Executive Order (EO) 112, issued on April 30.

The said EO declares that high-risk areas in the country, such as the National Capital Region, Region III except Aurora, Region IV-A, Benguet, Pangasinan, Iloilo, Cebu province, Bacolod City, and Davao City will be placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).

A May 2 memorandum issued by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea showed that Albay province and Zamboanga City had also been placed under ECQ, Pamonag said.

"So if you would see, these are dated April 30 and May 2. [But] as time progressed, yung iba dito naging GCQ na. However, kahit naging GCQ sila, yung mga areas that I mentioned, they are still covered under the second tranche," he said.

"While it's true na GCQ na sila but since yung declaration ng April 30 and May 2, they all fall under ECQ, they are still covered ng emergency subsidy fund," he added.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, around 18 million low-income households belonging to the informal sector will be targeted to receive monthly emergency subsidies amounting to P5,000 to P8,000 for April and May.

But last month, Malacañang announced that only those who reside in areas under ECQ will receive the second tranche of the cash subsidy.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte had considered granting cash aid to beneficiaries in GCQ areas, with the chief executive ordering Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado to find a funding source to make this possible.

The distribution of the second tranche of COVID-19 cash aid began on June 17. —LDF, GMA News