One of the provisions of the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act is to provide low-income households with subsidies ranging from PHP 5,000 to PHP 8,000. Here’s the breakdown of cash subsidies per region.
The breakdown was according to Albay Rep. Joey Salceda as acquired by the PTV via Daniel Manalastas.
The subsidy per region is determined from the region’s minimum wage levels as these are close approximations to the amount needed to buy basic food, medicine, and hygiene essentials. The target beneficiaries of the PHP 200 billion social amelioration program are the senior citizens, person with disabilities (PWDs), pregnant women, solo parents, overseas Filipinos in distress, indigenous people, homeless citizens, farmers, fishermen, self-employed, informal settlers, and employees who are affected by the “no work, no pay” policy such as house helpers, PUV drivers, and construction workers.
READ: How you can get assistance from DSWD via Social Amelioration Program
READ: DOLE issues FAQs on PHP 5K financial aid
So what will happen to the middle class tax paying workers whose job is also affected by the ECQ? We’ve just started the 2nd quarter and not much of leave credits have been earned. In fact, available credits might have already been used up during the first 2 weeks of the ECQ. Are we not qualified for the Social Amelioration Fund just because we wear long sleeve shirts and neckties considering the amount of taxes we pay to the government? I thought nobody should be discriminated during this time of crisis?