Low-income families to receive P5K to P8k in allowances monthly

Low-income families to receive P5K to P8k in allowances monthly

The Senate of the Philippines on Tuesday, March 24, approved on third and final reading, voting 19-1-0, Senate Bill No. 1413 also known as the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act", that would give President Rodrigo Duterte special powers to deal with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the country.

"Bayanihan to Heal as One Act: SBN 1413 to authorize the immediate release of P200 billion to 18 million families coming from the poor and informal sector."



If signed into law by the President, the bill would grant low-income families in the country an emergency cash assistance worth P5,000 to P8,000 per month for two months "whether in cash or kind, but mostly food," depending on minimum wage of their respective region.

"The exact amount is determined in proportion to the minimum wage of their respective region," said Senator Pia Cayetano, the sponsor of the bill.

Under the approved bill, public and private health workers who would be severely infected by the virus would receive a compensation of P100,000. While the families of those who contracted the virus and died while on the line of duty would also receive P1 million, effective retroactively.

Under the approved bill, Senate would give Duterte the special powers to "reprogram, reallocate, and realign from any appropriations "now reads under SB 1418 as "reprogram, reallocate, and realign from savings on other items of appropriations" in the 2020 budget of the executive branch.




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