This Sunday, the Malacañang advised everyone to not be in such greed when they receive the financial assistance that would be given by the Philippine government. This financial assistance was due to the outbreak of the infamous 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) that triggered the entire island of Luzon to be under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
The financial package is going to be given by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to about 18 million households. They have a budget of about P200 billion for their Social Amelioration Program.
Read: P100 Billion Cash to Help Poor Families, Released by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM)
Having more than one (1) amelioration card
Karlo Nograles, the Secretary of the Cabinet said that each home or household is only entitled to one (1) amelioration card. This means that each household is only given one financial assistance.
According to Nograles, there were several reports where some households got more than one card with the goal of receiving more than what the subsidy is. Nograles said that obtaining more than one amelioration card is definitely not allowed; that there are a lot of people who need help.
Read: Cash Assistance From the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Worth P5K to P8K
I saw reports stating that in one house, more than one got social amelioration cards. That's not allowed. Let's be ashamed because there are other people who need help."
What the amelioration card is
Going back a few steps, the DSWD distributed several amelioration cards as a form of proof that they're going to receive the financial assistance they were promised. These cards are going to be filled out by the head of the family; this will also be the basis of how much a certain household is going to get.
With reports scattered about some people getting more than one card, this sparked a lot of issues with the Philippine government. Nograles added that this financial assistance is done to make sure that all households of the spectrum are going to be funded; to ensure that they'll have something to eat.
This government assistance was intended to make sure that each household will have something to eat. Members of each household should share so that more people can receive help. If we are greedy, how about our neighbors who need help?"
Read: The PhilHealth Will Shoulder COVID-19 Patients’ Hospital Expenses
Which households will be given?
Beneficiaries who are qualified for the package would be families that are the most affected by the enhanced community quarantine. These are families that don't have a means of earning money while the quarantine is still up; the disadvantaged and the vulnerable sectors.
To provide a more concrete specification, these sectors include:
- Persons with Disability (PWDs)
- Pregnant and Lactating Women
- Senior Citizens
- Indigenous People
- Indigents
- Solo Parents
- Public Transportation Workers
- Underprivileged Sectors
- Homeless Citizens
- Home Workers
- Sari-sari store operators
- Sub-Contracted Workers
- Family Enterprise Owners
- Sub-Minimum Wage Earners
- Employees Affected by the No Work, No Pay Policy
- Informal Economy Workers
Read: How to Receive Your P5K Salary Subsidy From the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
In addition to that, people who are under the following categories would also be provided with one financial assistance per household. They are:
- Family Enterprise Owners
- Managing or Operating of:
- Eateries
- Food Production
- Vending
- Vegetable Vendors
- Fruit Vendors
- Street Vendors
These are the areas they would be financing but everyone needs to take note that the allowed package would be one financial assistance per household; nothing more, nothing less.
Citizens without problem urged to not avail
On the other end of the rope, citizens who are considered to be well-off or those that are not stressing out on how they'll eat are urged to not get the financial package. Nograles said that these families and households that are capable of supporting themselves should just let the poor receive the assistance.
You should just let the poor receive the aid. (It can be done on a) voluntary basis. If you are well-off and you can survive the enhanced community quarantine, just sacrifice and allow your needy neighbors to benefit from it. If you are an employee and you are from the formal sector, don't avail (of the assistance). You are receiving salaries from your company, why join the program?"
Have you already received an amelioration card from the DSWD? Are you expecting benefits any time soon? It is important to remember that the allowed value is only one financial assistance per household.
Millions of our people are looking for ways on how they can earn money in the middle of this crisis. If you are not part of them, you can join the force of helping them so they don't get hungry.
Remember, only one financial assistance per household is allowed. No indication of what the penalties are if a certain household is caught disobeying but hopefully, it doesn't come to that point.
Source: The Philippine Star
How about solo parent with pension from her death husband. Is she qualified for this?
And a senior citizen with pension from her death his and too. Is she allowed also?
just saying dito sa barangay namin kung sino pa yung mga hindi qualified sila pa yung nakalista .. nakakapagtaka at mukhang minaneobra ang mga bibigyan sana mapansin to kasi kung mgstick sa guidelines na mga dapat mabigyan pasok dapat yung mga di nakalista kaso di nangyare .. pag pera usapan uso talaga ang gapanga
How to receive financial assistance from DSWD?
Good morning. The program is very of great help. Hope and pray that our organized farmers will also received those support through their organizations.