Five million more families will receive cash aid under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) even as a lawmaker assured the government had enough funds to fight the pandemic. In a virtual news briefing on Saturday, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said the recipients would be on top of the 18 million low-income households originally targeted to benefit from the SAP. Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte wanted to give out cash aid to an additional five million families, especially those who were residing in areas that were placed under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ). The announcement came after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the government had extended the deadline for the distribution of the first tranche of the Covid-19 emergency subsidy program. Out of 18 million low-income families, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reported dispensing aid to 9.5 million families as of April 29.

Source: Manila Times May 02, 2020 16:30 UTC