Are you still waiting for the government’s COVID-19 dole out? The Duterte administration is almost done disbursing the second tranche of its emergency pandemic fund, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said today.
Spokesperson Irene Dumlao told ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo that they are still releasing the amount approved under the Bayanihan (“Camaraderie”) To Heal as One Act, which hands out as much as PHP8,000 (US$164) to families affected by the pandemic.
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“Presently, we have already [given] 96% from the second tranche,” she said.
She explained that some Filipinos have yet to receive the second installment of their COVID-19 fund because they did not provide their complete information, such as their middle names and phone numbers.
“These are beneficiaries whom we have to ask the local governments for additional information because some details are missing which our financial providers need. We’re focused at completing the social amelioration program under Bayanihan 1,” she explained.
The Social Work Department will also be ready to distribute the funds included in the Bayanihan 2 Act, which will provide subsidy for workers, teachers, artists, farmers, and fisherfolk. President Rodrigo Duterte has yet to sign the bill, which Congress has approved in June.
Hundreds of Filipinos have complained that they have yet to receive a single cent from the government, while others have accused local officials of pocketing the money. At least 400 government officials have been charged with stealing the country’s pandemic fund while 23 have been sued for allegedly falsifying documents in connection with the money’s disbursement.
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