Govt to give 18 million households 2-month emergency subsidy

Around 18 million low-income households nationwide will receive a two-month emergency subsidy from the national government starting April to combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The subsidy, ranging from PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 per household, will be based on regional minimum wage rates and will cover basic necessities.

Existing benefits from programs like the conditional cash transfer and rice subsidy will be considered in the computation, with the national government augmenting these to meet the emergency subsidy amount.

Beneficiaries can receive the assistance through various social amelioration programs, and a 'social amelioration card' will be used for validation and monitoring.

Eligibility criteria include having at least one member who is a senior citizen, a person with disability, pregnant or lactating woman, solo parent, or an overseas Filipino in distress, as well as indigenous peoples or those from underprivileged and vulnerable sectors.

President Rodrigo Duterte announced that PHP200 billion has been allocated for this program, described as the largest and widest social protection program in the country's history.

Funds for the Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) will be sourced from the PHP275 billion made available under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.