Robredo hits DSWD’s suspension of subsidies to poor

MANILA, Philippines — Vice President Leni Robredo slammed yesterday the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for suspending the disbursement of government subsidies to the poorest Filipinos amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak.

“We’ve learned of the decision of the DSWD this morning to suspend temporarily the disbursement of the social pension for indigent senior citizens, unconditional cash transfer and conditional cash transfer under the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program,” Robredo said in a statement.

“We are calling on the DSWD to withdraw its decision and continue the said program. Without these (subsidies), many will be forced to leave their homes to work, because if they don’t work they will have nothing to eat,” she said.

She said the government’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations would not be enough to support the poor families during the month-long community quarantine in Metro Manila.

“Instead of stopping the financial aid, the DSWD should release the whole amount of these safety nets for the months the community quarantine is imposed to ensure that no one will get hungry,” Robredo said.

The Vice President said advancing the release of subsidies to the poor would also prevent them from leaving their homes, which could help in reducing the spread of COVID-19.

Robredo also called on the government to increase the budget for the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced workers (TUPAD) program.

TUPAD is “a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.”

Sen. Leila de Lima has called for more proactive and positive steps in ensuring that all Filipino families will be properly assisted in the face of national public health emergency brought about the COVID-19 outbreak.

De Lima, who chairs the Senate committee on social justice, welfare and rural development, said she is appealing for concerted nationwide effort among all able Filipino people, including civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector, to arrest the further spread of the coronavirus, especially among the vulnerable sectors.

Quezon City Rep. Alfred Vargas said telecommunication firms should help Metro Manila residents and workers, including those in the nearby provinces, to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic by providing free text messages to communicate with their families. – With Delon Porcalla, Cecille Suerte Felipe