Duterte ensures aid for people 'left out' from social amelioration program

MANILA - President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday assured the public that the government will give emergency financial assistance to qualified beneficiaries who have been left out from the distribution of cash subsidies under the social amelioration program during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“Yung hindi pa nakatanggap, let us know by radio or what.. or doon sa mayors ninyo. Yun ang ating configuration ng gobyerno natin. Governors, mayors, municipal mayors, city mayors, barangay captain. Yan, magreport kayo diyan and it's just a matter of using a cellphone,” Duterte said in a speech Monday night.

“Lahat naman ng cellphone you can report to the governor and the governor will just ask Malacañang kung sino pa ba ang who are left behind, kasi pagbigyan namin lahat,” he added.

The President made the statement amid widespread complaints that not all low-income households have been covered by the social amelioration program.

Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista earlier said that he ordered local officials to submit the names of eligible beneficiaries who have yet to receive assistance.

“Ang sinasabi namin sa aming mga lokal na pamahalaan na kolektahin lang ang mga pangalan na ito, i-submit sa DSWD dahil itong data na ito ang magiging basehan para idulog namin ito sa ating mga economic advisers/managers para kanilang mapag-aralan at mahanapan ng additional na pondo,” Bautista said during Monday’s Laging Handa briefing.