COVID-19 cash assistance gets P10B in Senate's version of 2021 budget

The Social Amelioration Program (SAP), more commonly known as "ayuda," got a P10-billion allocation under the Senate version of the proposed P4.5-trillion national budget for 2021.

Senate committee on finance chairperson Sonny Angara said it would be under the regular budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development next year.

The SAP was first introduced under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act with an allocation of P200 billion. It covered the provision of P5,000 to P8,000 emergency cash subsidies to 18 million low-income households affected by the economic repercussions of the COVID-19 lockdowns earlier this year.

Another P6 billion was allocated for cash assistance through the Department of Social Welfare and Development under the second Bayanihan law which was enacted in September.

During the budget briefing in the Senate two months ago, Budget Secretary Wendel Avisado said there is no budget allocation

But the House of Representatives also included some P2 billion for "pandemic assistance to affected families" in its version of the budget.

Aside from the P10-billion SAP, the Senate version of the general appropriations bill also earmarked P102.7 billion for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; P12.77 billion for the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation; and P23 billion for social pension, among other social benefits.

The bicameral conference committee meeting is expected to start on Saturday and should it run smoothly, a bicameral report may be signed and approved by lawmakers on December 9.

The enrolled budget bill may then be submitted to Malacañang on December 16 for the President's signature.—AOL, GMA News