Senior Citizens W/ Pension Are Excluded From COVID-19 Cash Subsidy
COVID-19 – IATF spokesperson Karlo Nograles said senior citizens who receive pensions are excluded from coronavirus emergency cash subsidy.
The Philippine has allocated P275 billion for 2019 novel coronavirus efforts. The money will also be used to provide aid for poor families affected by the pandemic.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte recently signed the Republic Act No. 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. Under the social amelioration program, families will receive P5000 to P8000 to help them cope with the “enhanced community quarantine.” The daily wage earners and the elderly are the most affected in the COVID-19 crisis.
Duterte ordered the Department of Welfare and Development (DSWD) to distribute the cash. However, several senators suggested that the local government unit should participate in distributing cash assistance.
Based on a report from Inquirer, the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Disease (IATF-EID) said the senior citizens who are receiving a pension are excluded from the program. The spokesperson of IATF and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said low-income families and indigent senior citizens will receive the COVID-19 cash subsidy.
“Pensioners are not included in low-income families. The first criteria is ‘low income.’ And among the low-income families, priority is senior citizens, solo parents, etcetera…”
“Ang uunahin natin na senior citizens, siyempre iyong mga indigent senior citizens,” he added.
According to the report, the spokesperson clarified that the senior citizens who are receiving a pension from were they used to work are excluded and not the elderly who receives a pension from DSWD.
“So siguro kaya may mga na-e-exclude na senior citizens, dahil iyon ‘yung mga senior citizens na mayroon namang natatanggap na pensiyon na hindi social pension ng DSWD,” said Nograles.
Based on the report, Karlo Nograles said they prioritizing the Filipinos who need the subsidy the most. “Iyong 18 million families are iyong mga most—those who are in need, iyong mga nangangailangan. So iyon lamang na nahihirapan, iyon lamang nasa informal sector, iyong mga no-work, no-pay,” he said.
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Republic Act No. 11469, or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act –
Sana walang magsamantala sa Act na ‘to!
Not saying everybody is doing this, pero alam natin na kung sino yung dapat maglingkod, sila yung nagsasamantala. Yung sa halip na magbigay, nang-aagaw pa ng isusubo na lang ng mahihirap na Pilipino. At sana walang maiwan sa biyayang eto. Lahat ay makatanggap ng nauukol para sa kanila. Salamat President Duterte sa mga ginagawa mo para sa mga Pilipino. Pagpalain ka at ang mga katulong mo mag-angat sa buhay ng mga Pilipino. God Bless the Philippines!