MANILA, Philippines — A civil society organization on Friday urged the government to explore “more universal” approaches in the implementation of its social amelioration program in order to help more families amid the COVID-19 lockdown. Victoria Raquiza said the government should instead hasten and widen its targeting modes, like considering households in fourth to sixth class barangays as automatically qualified for the social amelioration program. During this period of intensified and widespread poverty, they are all deserving,” Raquiza pointed out. The main issue seemed to emanate from the differing list of beneficiaries between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the lead agency in the distribution of the social amelioration program, and local government units (LGUs). “We urge the government to explore utilizing a combination of the geographic and self-targeting approach in the implementation of [social amelioration program] to expedite the provision of public aid,” Raquiza said.

Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer April 10, 2020 11:15 UTC