COVID-19 CRISIS

Include non-ECQ, GCQ areas in second wave of cash aid or face raps, implementers warned

Cagayan De Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez on Thursday told implementers of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to ensure that all qualified beneficiaries will receive the second tranche regardless of the prevailing quarantine restriction in their area, or else they could face criminal charges.

In a statement, Rodriguez said the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases, upon the Department of Social Welfare and Development's recommendation, has decided to limit the second tranche of COVID-19 cash subsidy to households in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ).

This, however, violates the provision under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act which states that the emergency cash subsidy will be distributed to around 18 million low-income families for two months, he said.

If the assistance will be limited to areas with prevailing quarantine restriction, then poor families in most areas of the country will not receive the aid, Rodriguez said.

He pointed out that only Metro Manila, some parts of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao are still under GCQ, and some parts of Cebu under ECQ or modified ECQ, he added.

All other areas in the country, meanwhile, are on modified general community quarantine.

"Among those who will not get aid are about 8,000 families who are my constituents in the second district of Cagayan de Oro City," Rodriguez said.

"We cannot stop them and other affected families from going to court to challenge the IATF decision,” he added.

Rodriguez reminded the implementers that the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act itself provides penalties for violations of its provisions. They may also be charged under the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, he added.

On Monday, the House of Representatives opened its inquiry into the delay in the distribution of COVID-19 cash aid to rightful beneficiaries.

Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said during the hearing that while Congress is a partner of government agencies in providing assistance to the public, those who do not do their jobs properly should be held accountable.

“We’re partners here,” Cayetano told the DSWD undersecretaries present during the hearing. “Pero ang partners, nagsisingilan."

The House will conduct a second hearing on the matter but the date has yet to be determined. —KBK, GMA News