PNP ready for distribution of cash aid’s 2nd tranche —Gamboa

The Philippine National Police is ready to provide safety and security services to the public for the orderly distribution of the second tranche of the cash aid under the national government's social amelioration program, PNP chief Police General Archie Gamboa said Wednesday.

In a statement, Gamboa said that PNP personnel, including augmented police forces from the regional and national headquarters, will be deployed to provide security assistance to the Department of Social Welfare and Development and local government units.

“I ordered police regional offices and concerned PNP units to give full support  in terms of technical, administrative and logistical assistance to facilitate the orderly distribution of cash aid under SAP,” Gamboa said.

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte said he would tap the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines to ensure that the payouts will reach the beneficiaries amid numerous complaints of irregularities in the distribution of the cash assistance.

Gamboa said he already directed regional and provincial units of the PNP Criminal Investigation and Detection Group to launch a thorough investigation on the anomalies in the cash aid distribution.

Meanwhile, he added that police regional offices have already coordinated with the AFP territorial units regarding clearing operations to ensure the safe passage of beneficiaries from the designated distribution centers to their place of residence.

“Select PNP personnel will be deployed in the distribution centers to assist in the actual disbursement and handling of funds, in cooperation with DSWD special disbursing officers,” Gamboa said.

He also said local police will coordinate with barangay officials for the observance of minimum health protocols such as sanitation of areas, physical distancing and providing other security requirements at distribution centers.

The distribution of the second trance of the cash aid will be implemented in the National Capital Region, Region III (except Aurora), and Region IV-A.

Also included are Benguet, Pangasinan, Iloilo, Albay, Cebu, and the key cities of Bacolod, Zamboanga and Davao.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Tuesday said the distribution of the cash aid began on Wednesday, June 17, in Benguet.

Under the Social Amelioration Program, low-income families will be given a cash subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 per month for two months to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News