SEC. NOGRALES: While we are on the issue of discrimination, gusto din po naming ulitin na kailangan po tuluy-tuloy ang daloy ng cargo at pagpasok ng mga manggagawa sa agrikultura at food production.

Pursuant to the policy of allowing of the unhampered movement of all cargos, LGUs and local health units are hereby enjoined not to issue orders that run counter to said directive such as but not limited to requiring asymptomatic drivers and crews of cargo or service delivery vehicles to undergo mandatory 14-day quarantine.

Inuulit po ng IATF: Kailangan po tuluy-tuloy ang daloy ng cargo, exempted po ito sa ECQ. Pinapaalala po natin sa LGUs at local health units na hindi po required ang mga driver at pahinante ng cargo at delivery truck na mag-undergo ng 14-day quarantine.

We also reiterate that LGUs are also strongly enjoined to allow the unhampered transit of OFWs that have been issued DOH or LGU certificate of completion of 14-day facility based quarantine or those who may be required by the DOH or LGUs to undergo a mandatory 14-day home quarantine.

Ipinapaalala po namin sa ating mga LGUs na huwag harangin ang ating mga OFW na nabigyan na po ng DOH o ng ibang LGU ng sertipikasyon na natapos na nila ang kanilang 14-day facility based quarantine o ang mga OFW na required mag-mandatory 14-day home quarantine. Please lang po, malaki po ang sakripisyo ng ating mga OFW, hindi po sila papauwiin ng DOH kung wala po silang clearance; at hindi po sila nakakahawa. Gusto lang natin na umuwi sila sa kanilang tahanan. Let them go home.

Now, as we enter the fourth week of the ECQ, isang malaking concern ang tulong pinansyal na ibibigay at ibibigay ngayon ng gobyerno sa 18 milyong mahihirap na pamamahay. Gusto ko lang ipaalam sa ating mga 4Ps beneficiaries na may cash card, last week po na-transfer na ng DSWD ang inyong karagdagang tulong sa inyong mga ATM accounts.

According to DSWD, 4Ps beneficiaries with cash cards in Region I, II, III, IV-A, NCR, Cordillera Administrative Region and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao or BARMM received their emergency cash subsidies last Friday pa, April 3.

While the second release was made last Saturday, April 4, para naman iyan sa Regions IV-B, V, VI, VII and IX. And yesterday, Sunday, April 5, para naman sa Regions VIII, X, XI, XII, Caraga and other regions. So kumpleto na po ang lahat ng regions.

Out of the total 4Ps beneficiaries, more than 3.6 million with cash cards nationwide were provided with the subsidy with a total budget allocation of more than 16.3 billion pesos.

Sa mga 4Ps beneficiaries na walang cash card, dinownload na po ang pondo sa mga DSWD regional offices para maibigay na po sa inyo ang inyong cash subsidy. The Department is working on the distribution arrangements with your LGUs together with the city and municipal links who will coordinate with the beneficiaries for the scheduled release of the emergency cash subsidy. Para iyan sa mga 4Ps na walang cash cards. Paki-abangan na lang po ang anunsyo sa inyong mga lugar.

Last week po may mga inatasan ang IATF na i-identify ang mga pasilidad na gagamitin bilang quarantine para pang-isolate ng PUI, PUM o mga kababayan natin na may COVID-19. Isa sa mga lugar na tinukoy ay New Clark City. We would like to report that government buildings in New Clark City have already been refurbished and have been converted into a 1,000-bed hospital. Aside from this, COVID-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. reports that Rizal Stadium will be ready by this week. Actually, very early this week, kung hindi today, tomorrow, with a capacity for 200 beds. While the World Trade Center once completed will be able to house 500 beds and also have living quarters for health workers.

Secretary Galvez also reports that many LGUs have also stepped up their efforts to provide quarantine facilities and areas in their respective localities; and we will report in the same in the days ahead.

Ngayon, may mga nagtatanong kung i-extend ba ang Enhanced Community Quarantine or hindi. We would like to reiterate that the IATF created a Technical Working Group and this is led by DOH and they have been directed to convene and apply the already approved parameters for deciding on the eventual total or partial lifting of the ECQ in Luzon or the possible extension of its duration or expansion to other areas outside the contained area, subject to the approval or amendment of the IATF or its modification but ultimately subject to the approval of the President. Isang IATF TWG na pinamumunuan ng DOH ay inaatasan na i-apply na ang mga pamantayan na gagamitin para matukoy kung itutuloy ba natin o hindi ang ECQ sa Luzon o kung may isasama pa tayong mga lugar.

Kasama po sa TWG na ito ang National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), ang Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) at mga technical experts mula sa academe at sa health, sa economics at sa security sectors.

Ang mga batayan na gagamitin sa pag-decide po nito ay ang mga sumusunod:

1. Trends in the COVID-19 epidemiological curve which include among others doubling time, acceleration or deceleration of new cases.
2. The capacity of our health care system, which includes among others the number and availability quarantine, isolation and treatment facilities; the capability to mount contact tracing; availability of personal protective equipment or PPEs to our frontliners; and the testing capacity of the gantry.
3. Social factors.
4. Economic factors.
5. Security factors.

Hindi ko po masabi ngayon kung kalian ia-announce ang desisyon tungkol sa ECQ pero makakasiguro po kayo na sa desisyong ito, papakinggan po natin, ng IATF at ni Pangulong Duterte ang lahat ng mga eksperto bago makarating sa napakaimportanteng desisyon na ito.

Now, for the duration of the ECQ, we would like to remind everyone – under the ECQ – that wearing of masks outside your home is now mandatory.

Sa mga lugar kung sana pinapatupad ang ECQ, lahat po ng mga kababayan natin na lalabas sa kanilang tahanan para mamili ay required na po gumamit ng face mask.

Pero uulitin ko po: Hindi po tayo kailangang bumili ng face mask. Kung wala po tayong face mask, puwede po ang panyo, indigenous/reusable or do-it-yourself mask or face shield. Kahit improvised po ito, panyo o anuman, basta po may pantakip tayo ng bibig at ilong, puwede po iyong gamitin. Kaya po huwag nating kalimutan ang mga facemask natin tuwing lalabas tayo dahil itse-check po iyan sa mga checkpoint natin. Pero siyempre sisiguraduhin po natin na nag-stock pile din po tayo ng N95 at surgical face mask para sa ating mga health workers at medical frontliners po natin.

Kaya mga kumpaniya at indibidwal, huwag po tayong mag-hoarding ng facemask na N95 at medical mask. Huwag po tayong makikipag-agawan ng stock na ito lalung-lalo na kapag inaagaw natin ito mula sa ating mga health workers at medical frontliners at nangangailangan po nitong N95 at surgical masks na ito.

Speaking of checkpoints, last Friday, the government launched the Rapid Pass System to allow for faster passage through our checkpoints and to ensure better social distancing at our 4,792 quarantine controlled points nationwide.

Para sa mga nabigyan na po ng accreditation pass noon, puwede na po kayong pumunta sa rapidpass.ph para po mag-apply ng pass na ito; para kapag approve na po kayo sa sistema, a unique and secure QR code and control number will be granted to each authorized person or vehicle. Puwede pong i-print ang QR code at ilagay po doon sa kotse; puwede po rin ninyong ilagay sa lanyard, parang ID para ito ang ipapakita ninyo; puwede rin po na i-download sa smart phone. So sa mga walang smart phone or printer, the authorized person can also present his control number na puwede namang SMS message/text po sa inyong telepono.

Ngayon, dito sa Rapid Pass System, ang ating mga checkpoint enforcers, gagamit po iyan ng QR code scanners sa kanilang mga smart phones na na-issue na rin po natin sa kanila. So i-scan po iyong inyong QR code na ibibigay doon sa mga authorized individuals at vehicles, pag-scan sa QR code, puwede na pong padaanin na ang indibidwal o ang kaniyang sasakyan.

Paalala po, libre po ito at walang bayad po. Hindi rin namin binibenta ito. So hindi rin po ito required. The rapid pass will be available to the accredited personnel but it will not be required for now. In the meantime, puwede pa ring ipakita ang ID or your accreditation pass para makadaan po kayo doon sa checkpoint.

Last week po, in-announce na rin ng DOH na may one million PPEs na available na or in-acquire or binili nila para sa ating mga frontliners ‘no. Pero aside po from these newly procured PPEs, the DTI has announced that member companies of the Confederation of Wearable Exporters of the Philippines (CONWEP) will now start the local production of medical-grade PPE cover-alls for health workers.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our country was not a local producer of medical-grade PPEs. To remedy this, under the stewardship of DTI Secretary Mon Lopez, the government through the BOI linked the private and health sectors in developing a medical-grade prototype that can be used even in high COVID-risk hospital situation such as operating rooms, COVID-19 positive wards and for ICUs. Under this partnership, member companies of CONWEP executed the design prototype of the PPE cover-alls. After several tests by DOH and PGH, CONWEP refitted the design prototypes until these were approved by the Department of Health and PGH. Raw materials for this will be shipped in by this week, and roll out of production at the garment factories will immediately start after the Holy Week. Once operational, these factories will be able to produce 10,000 PPEs per day. Sampung libong PPEs kada araw po kaya maraming, maraming salamat.

Ngayon, alam po namin na marami pa ring mga indibidwal na tumutulong at nagpapadala ng donasyon ng PPEs at ibang kagamitan mula sa ibang bansa. Sa mga gusto pa magpadala ng kagamitan dito, tax and duty free na po ang pag-import ng PPEs at medical emergency supplies.

The Bureau of Customs recently issued Customs Administrative Order (CAO) 07-2020 that provides guidelines for tax and duty exempt importations of personal protective equipment (PPEs) and other medical emergency supplies under Section 4-O of Republic Act 11469 otherwise known as Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.

The aim of this CAO is to expedite Customs clearance of tax and duty exempt importations of PPEs and medical goods which are urgently needed by the country’s citizens, frontliners and medical supplies manufacturers. Under this CAO, importers of PPEs and medical equipment and supplies for commercial purposes are now exempted from presenting the Certificate of Product Notification (CPN) or the Certificate of Product Registration (CPR) issued by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) prior to release from the Bureau provided that they present a copy of their License to Operate (LTO) and proof of application for product notification with the FDA.

Moreover, those importing ventilators, respirators and their respective accessories for commercial purposes only need to present a copy of their LTO. In addition to this, imported health products for donation that are certified by regulatory agencies or accredited third party organizations in the originating countries shall be automatically cleared, while an FDA clearance will not be required prior to the releases of foreign donations of PPEs, ventilators, respirators and their respective accessories which will be used in treating COVID-19 patients.

Imported goods under Section 4-O of RA 11469 which are released under provisional goods declaration are subject to the submission of tax exemption endorsement issued by the Department of Finances Revenue Office after April 12, 2020 or upon lifting of the declaration of ECQ, whatever comes earlier.

In connection with this order, the Bureau of Internal Revenue issued Revenue Memorandum Order 10-2020 in which Authority to Release Imported Goods (ATRIG) is also no longer required for importations of PPEs and medical emergency supplies.

Ngayon, kung may mga issues po tayo sa pag-import ng mga PPEs o ng iba pang mga kagamitan, sabi ng Bureau of Customs puwede po tayong tumawag sa 0917-8322925 or 0967-2256871 or 0917-7461168 or 0917-2542258.

So nakikita po natin na nagiging whole of nation na po ang laban na ito. More and more of our countrymen have chosen to step up and work with us in government in efforts to overcome this pandemic. Lahat po ng tulong ay welcome po. Maraming, maraming salamat.

Pero tulad ng lagi naming sinasabi, ang labang ito ay nagsisimula sa inyo pong mga tahanan. Ang pamilya natin, iyan po ang first line of defense. Please stay home. Malaking tulong na po ito para sa ating lahat. Bahay muna, buhay muna.

Together, we can beat COVID-19. Together, we heal as one. Maraming salamat po and God bless and protect each and every one of you.

Babasahin ko na po ang mga katanungan mula sa ating media.

From Joseph Morong of GMA-7: “How long are we going to observe the data before we decide to extend or lift ECQ?”

Mayroon po tayong IATF meeting mamayang hapon, after lunch, at pag-uusapan po namin ito. Mabuti na rin na nag-Saturday and Sunday, so mayroon na po tayong karagdagang two days’ worth of data na maaaring makapagbigay pa nang mas maliwanag na analysis doon sa mga numero, mga trends, epidemiological curve, doubling time, acceleration or distribution of cases, at siyempre iyong iba pang mga parameters na pag-uusapan namin.

“Regarding the emergency subsidy program, we often say this is for the 18 million Filipinos who are affected by the quarantine. But some clarifications, the overall concern is, number one, barangays are being selective with its recipient list. Tulad ng sa Angeles City, there is an allocation per barangay of the number of social amelioration beneficiaries from DSWD. The consequence is, once the allocation or cap is reached, it might exclude some individuals. Is the allocation correct? In Abra, most senior citizens are excluded because they’re already enjoying senior benefits already. This doesn’t sound right.”

Okay, ganito po iyon ano. Siyempre noong ginawa po iyong calculation, 18 million families; siyempre considered na po doon sa 18 million families iyong mula sa 4Ps ‘di ba. So iyong mga nasa 4Ps na nabigyan na po ng tulong mula sa national government dahil kasama po sila sa national database ‘di po ba. So since kasama sila doon sa national database po natin na mga 4Ps beneficiaries at nabigyan na po sila noong …doon sa kanilang mga cash cards, na-download na po at naipasok na po sa kanilang Landbank accounts or nasa cash card na nila iyong tulong natin, hindi na po iyon kasama doon sa dapat tulungan ng… or bibigyan ng social amelioration card ng LGU, okay.

So noong namahagi po ng allocation ang DSWD sa mga LGUs, considered na po doon iyong mga 4Ps na dapat hindi na isasama doon sa Social Amelioration Card dahil mayroon na silang natanggap. Tapos ang sa Social Amelioration Card, para lang iyon sa informal, nasa informal sector; kasi iyong formal sector workers, DOLE naman po ang bahala doon. Kasi ang DOLE, mayroong CAMP na tulong, okay. So pagbigay ng allocation sa LGUs—at totoo po iyon, lagi nating sinasabi na ang DSWD po ang magmamando, pero siyempre with the assistance of the LGUs kasi hihingi siya ng assistance mula sa LGUs.

So iyong pagbigay ng allocation sa LGUs, number one, that is based on the budget proposal ng LGU; based din doon sa number of families na sinubmit ng LGUs na kinakailangan niya. So pagdating sa DSWD ng proposed budget ng LGUs, pati iyong number of families an affected, siyempre ang ibabalik doon sa LGUs is nabawasan na doon iyong para sa 4Ps at nabawasan na doon iyong para sa formal sector. So ganoon po iyong pag-allocate natin sa mga LGUs, okay.

Ngayon, iyong senior citizens are excluded – siguro ito iyong mga senior citizens na may mga natatanggap na pensiyon. Kasi kung may pensiyon po sila, then of course ang ating—and I’m not talking about social pension ha, may tinatanggap na pensiyon mula sa kanilang pension benefits noong sila pa’y nagtatrabaho or pension benefits from other sources ‘no. Ang uunahin natin na senior citizens, siyempre iyong mga indigent senior citizens. Iyong senior citizens na tumatanggap ng social pension mula sa 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.

So siguro klaruhin natin ito ‘no na, of course, when you count 18 million families, that’s less than the number of Filipino families in total. Iyong 18 million families are iyong mga most—those who are in need, iyong mga nangangailangan. Hindi na po namin sinama doon sa 18 million families iyong mga may kaya. So iyon lamang na nahihirapan, iyon lamang nasa informal sector, iyong mga no-work, no-pay at lahat po iyan ay nandoon po sa guidelines.

So in other words, kung may kaya ka naman, kung ang pamilya mo may kaya at kung may kaya naman kayo at hindi naman kayo nabibilang doon sa mga—at alam mo naman eh, alam ninyo naman kung kayo ba ay nabibilang sa poorest of the poor, the marginalized, iyong pinakanahihirapan, iyong mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan ng tulong ng gobyerno… sila iyong dapat nating tulungan. Sila iyong dapat hayaan nating matulungan ng gobyerno, hindi po ito para sa mga may kaya na po.

Question on the budget: “Would you have the final budgetary requirement already? Where specifically are the donated salaries of government officials including President Duterte’s salary going? And how much, if accounted already have we gathered from salaries of government officials?”

Actually, hindi ko alam kung paano iyong operation niyan sa Accounting Department namin. Like for instance sa Office of the President, I don’t know how it will operate. Ang expectation ko lang is pagdating ng suweldo sa akin, nabawasan na iyon ng 75%. So iyong 75%, iyon po iyong parang savings ‘di ba, and then from the savings, then puwede iyon i-reallocate para sa mga pangangailangan doon sa… against COVID-19. So I would assume iyan ang operation kasi siyempre wala naman ako physically sa office to give my cash ‘di ba. So I really don’t know how it will operate in terms of how the accounting office or the accounts office will do that ‘no.

Iyong budgetary requirement, I don’t understand, what is the final budgetary requirement for the whole COVID-19?

Well, ang estimate is 200 billion ‘di ba. How this is spent? I would assume that’s part of the report of the President to Congress. Now I cannot talk about the report of the President to Congress right now because, number one, I don’t have it with me, the final version yet ‘no.

Ito siguro, iyong kay Joseph: “How much really are we talking about? 275 billion or 400 billion? How much are we spending for the 12 quarantine facilities including the ones in Central Luzon?”

Iyong sa quarantine facilities, I don’t have the number. Siguro we should refer the question to DPWH.

Iyong how much are we really talking about here, 275 billion/400 billion? Well right now, ang alam ko, what was released so far to DSWD is 100 billion pesos. So that is for the Social Amelioration Program ‘no.

Kasi ang estimate natin was 200 billion, so one hundred billion muna ang dinownload because it’s good for two months ‘di ba. So one hundred billion muna for the next month, then the next hundred billion for the next month, right? And then that one hundred billion will obviously have to be liquidated both by DSWD pati iyong mga LGUs kung saan ibibigay iyong pera para ipamahagi doon sa mga nangangailangan.

Now, going forward: “Will it be more than 200 billion, will it be 275, 400 billion?”

Well, I really don’t know. It depends on the circumstances – how long is the ECQ, how extensive is the ECQ. So it depends on a lot of factors really. And even doon sa Bayanihan Act, wala ka namang makitang budget talaga doon na nakalagay, kasi nga mahirap magtantsa. But every week, mayroon po tayong report to Congress mula kay Pangulong Duterte, at diyan po nakapaloob ang mga nagastos natin so far.

From Chona Yu of Radyo Inquirer. “What is the recommendation of the technical working group on ECQ extension, extended, expanded until when?”

Abangan na lang po natin. Wala pa po. Kasi iyong technical working group will do a presentation again later.

From Rosalie Coz/UNTV: “Magkano na po ang na-distribute ng DSWD at ilan na po ang napagkalooban ng ayuda sa ilalim ng social amelioration program? Ano po ang timeline ng pamamahagi at sistemang pinapatupad? Mauuna ba ang siyudad na kumpleto na ang listahan ng beneficiary?”

Let’s refer that to DSWD, iyong mga katanungan po diyan.

“Ano po ang highlight ng Duterte administration’s report to joint congressional oversight committee sa implementation?”

Abangan po natin ‘no. Any announcement ng Pangulo pati kapag nakuha ko na rin po iyong final report then we will also… ibabalita rin po namin iyong highlights nung report na iyon.

From Gen Kabiling/Manila Bulletin: 1.) Will the national government give the LGUs a greater role in the distribution of cash aid to low income Filipinos since they have a better grasp of the needs of their constituents? How will the government address reported discrepancies in the list of beneficiaries and alleged cumbersome rules that delay the distribution of the aid?

Number one, ayaw po natin ng delays ‘di ba. So kung may mga cumbersome rules or mga red tape na nandiyan, we try to do away with it as much as possible. Kaya nandiyan na rin po iyong ARTA (Anti-Red Tape Authority) para tingnan kung saan iyong mga may problema sa system na…kung saan nagkakabuhul-buhol, ano iyong mga cumbersome para we can do away with it without sacrificing of course iyong ating pag-account at audit ‘no. So iyon, number one.

“So how will government address the reported discrepancies?”

Well, kung may discrepancies, kung may report sa atin, i-investigate agad natin. We have the full strength of the Office of the President, kasama na iyong ARTA, kasama iyong Presidential Anti-Corruption. Siyempre nandiyan din iyong Ombudsman, although that’s separate from the Office of the President. So kung may mga discrepancies at may pandaraya, nandiyan po iyong mga mekanismo na iyan.

Also, before I forget, we also tasked a technical working group headed by DICT para to use ICT solutions para mas mapabilis din ang pag-account, ang pag-audit at kahit iyong distribution process ng ating Social Amelioration Program.

Iyong greater role ng LGUs, well, gaya ng sabi namin, ang DSWD at sinabi ni Pangulo, it’s DSWD ang magmamando. Pero DSWD at lahat ng mga agencies ng national government can ask for the assistance ng mga LGUs. So assistance ng LGUs is also very crucial siyempre dahil nga, totoo ang sabi mo ‘no, sila ang nakakakilala ng kanilang constituents, sila ang nakakaalam kung ano iyong applicable at sino iyong mga pamilya na dapat piliin at sila ang nakakakilala sa mga constituents nila. At iyong sistema rin, baka makakatulong din iyong LGUs magbigay ng mga recommendations para mapabilis iyong sistema which is tugma at angkop doon sa kanilang local situations. But again, it’s DSWD and the national government ang magmamando.

2.) With the global economic slowdown, drop in tourism and oil prices, how many OFWs do you expect to lose their jobs? How will the government assist the displaced OFWs? Is the government prepared for possible decrease in remittances from OFWs?

Lahat po iyan ay pinag-aaralan ng NEDA at iyong technical working group doon sa anticipatory and forward planning. So even ito, sa remittances, how many OFWs will be displaced, how many workers may be displaced, even locally ‘no, domestically hindi lang abroad, kasama iyan sa pinag-aaralan; and all of these are based on estimates ‘di ba. Pero hindi pa siya solid figure, these are just assumptions and estimates pero it gives us as policy planners an idea of what to expect para maka-prepare po tayo. So kung ganito karami ang mawawalan ng trabaho, saan tayo hahanap ng industriya o ano iyong mga industriya na puwede pa natin palawakin para doon natin ilalagay iyong workforce natin.

So sa OFWs, well, necessarily dahil global and worldwide pandemic po ito, maaaring maraming OFWs ang mawawalan ng trabaho. So instead of deploying them abroad, anong industriya po natin sila puwedeng ipasok. So even in this worldwide, global pandemic, even iyong situation natin dito sa COVID-19, may mga ibang industriya that will flourish, na aakyat, na aangat. May mga industriya na maaapektuhan so dapat anong tulong natin diyan. Ngayon, ano iyong industriya na magpu-flourish, na aakyat, na aangat? Iyon doon natin, tulungan natin para habang umaakyat sila, habang lumalago sila, habang nagde-develop sila, then we can counter iyong displacement dito, dahil natin doon sa up and coming industries ‘di ba.

From Aileen Taliping/Abante: “Can the DOH put more hotline for easy access? Their numbers are all busy or cannot be reached. Baka puwedeng isama na rin ang hotlines ng designated COVID government hospitals para madaling tawagan ng barangay or PUIs?”

It’s a very good idea. We’ll take this up sa IATF.

Second questions: “Kasama po ba ang mga homeless o palaboy sa makakatanggap sa social amelioration?”

Yes, of course, kasama po sila. Sila iyong ating mga targeted beneficiaries po dito sa Social Amelioration Program.

“Hindi sila umano sinasali ng barangay ng mga binibigyan, kahit man lang food ration dahil hindi sila considered residence ng community?”

Hindi po dapat ganiyan, dapat sila po ay kina-count at kinu-consider po ng ating LGU pati ng DSWD.

“Marami po sila sa Quiapo area, pakalat-kalat kahit may ECQ?”

So, yes, DSWD is in charge po dito so we will alert DSWD dito. And ang alam ko, DSWD has been acting on it already.

From Triciah Terada/CNN Philippines: “Good morning. You said, number one, IATF will submit its recommendation to the President today. May we know if IATF is keen on pushing for an extension of ECQ?”

Trish, hindi ko masasagot iyan dahil magmi-meeting pa kami ng 2 P.M. So abangan na lang po. And I would like to emphasize that it’s a collegiate body. It’s a …marami kami ‘no. And when we decide, consensus building talaga ito. At when we decide, it’s as the IATF. At again, we will make the recommendations to the President. But ultimately, ultimately, si Pangulo po ang magdedesisyon. So mula sa eksperto, ibibigay sa IATF, pag-uusapan namin, magku-consensus kami, dadalhin namin kay Pangulo, si Pangulo ang magde-decide.

2. May mga LGUs po that are complaining na iyong Social Amelioration Card na ipinamimigay are way below the number of poor families in their community who need it, so, nagagalit po iyong mga residente sa kanila. Hindi naman daw po eighteen million families ang mako-cover. What’s the reason behind this?

Like I said, kailangan sigurong maunawaan natin itong mga 4Ps, taken cared of na iyan. So, iyong mga 4Ps and their families huwag na po nating isali sa Social Amelioration. Iyong formal workers ng DOLE, counted na po iyon sa CAMP ng DOLE. Ngayon, iyong CAMP ng DOLE, ang ibibigay doon is five thousand lamang, so, magta-top-up pa kami doon. Pero hindi bale, huwag na ninyong intindihin iyon, hanapan na namin ng ibang sistema iyon para ma-top-up namin.

Ang iko-concentrate lang po natin is the informal workers. Ngayon, ang pakiusap ko lang din doon sa pagpili, alam ninyo, huwag naman nating i-take advantage itong pamimili ng Social Amelioration Card. What do I mean? Hindi ba nandoon iyong qualifications? Nakalagay doon driver ng PUJ sabihin natin, so isang Social Amelioration Card na po iyon para sa pamilya. Huwag mong gawin na PUJ driver ako, so one Social Amelioration Card ako, tapos iyong misis ko ay labandera, so kailangan mayroon din siya. Hindi po ganiyan, for family. So, ganoon po ang pagpili.

Kaya noong dinesign po iyan at namahagi po ng allocation ang DSWD sa mga LGUS, hindi na po binilang iyong 4Ps pati iyong mga formal workers doon and it’s on a per family basis. Hindi po iyan na per member of the family; otherwise, magiging kulang talaga iyan at magkakadoble which is binabantayan din namin sa national government na hindi magkaroon ng pagkadoble-doble.

Ngayon, kung may kaya naman po kayo at hindi naman talaga kayo kasama doon sa sinasabing informal worker na naghihirap, huwag na po tayong magpumilit din na pumasok pa diyan at makisali diyan kasi ang priority po talaga natin ay iyong mga hirap talaga. So, iyon… magkaroon ng kaunting self-assessment iyong ating mga kababayan. Kung ikaw ay kaya mo naman, sa awa ng Diyos blessed ka naman dahil nabigyan ka ng paraan ng Panginoon na makapag-ano ka sa pamilya mo na masustentuhan mo pamilya mo, ibigay na lang natin doon sa mga ibang hindi nakakasustento ng kanilang pamilya. So, parang ganiyan… iyon ang pakiusap ko sana.

3. As an effect, barangays were told to choose who will benefit from the program given the very limited slots? So, in a way hindi po parang nabalik lang din sa LGU, barangay, iyong power which can be prone to abuse? Let’s say, for example, may capacity na ulit iyong barangay ang mamili kung sino lang ang allies nila.

So, ito ang binabantayan namin, hindi ba? Kaya nakabantay ang DSWD, nakabantay niyong PNP, nakabantay iyong AFP, nakabantay iyong NTF, National Task Force COVID, nakabantay iyong Chief Implementer. So, marami pong nakabantay at siyempre, sa amin naman mapupunta ang listahan at iche-check naman naman po natin, hindi po ba?

So, kung hindi rin kayo mahuhuli ngayon eh, mahuhuli rin kayo kapag natapos na ito, hindi ba? Kasi ia-audit iyan eh, lahat iyan ia-audit. Ia-audit pa ng COA iyan, so kung may dayaan po tayong nakikita like tulad niyan, isang bahay, tatlong Social Amelioration Card or iyong iba diyan hindi ninyo pinagbigyan dahil hindi ninyo kaalyado or whatever… for whatever reason. Kung hindi kayo mahuhuli ngayon, mahuhuli rin kayo eventually. So, iyon lang… warning lang na hindi lang naman ngayon ang ano eh—huwag ninyong isipin na ngayon lamang dahil nagkakagulo-gulo, dahil dito sa krisis na ito ay hindi kayo mahuhuli, magkakahulihan pa rin.

From Henry Uri/DZRH: “Ang pamimigay po ba ng Social Amelioration ay per household or per family?”

Per family po.

“Paano po kung iisang household may tatlong family, lahat po ba sila ay makakatanggap?”

Ideally, yes. Of course, siyempre hindi natin maiiwasan sa setting ng ibang mga bayan at siyudad, isang bubong, isang bahay pero may dalawa – taTlong pamilyang nakarita doon kasi mahirap nga. Siyempre, per family tayo kasi iyong budget na ibibigay namin sa inyo ay para makabili kayo ng inyong makakain, iyong mga pangangailangan ninyo, so, siyempre it’s really per family.

Pero ang akin lang diyan, huwag ninyo namang dayain na, “Oh, per family daw,” o “Si ganyan, si ganyan.” So, parang nagpaparamihan tayo ng Social Amelioration Card, so, naghahanap ng diskarte na, “o, para makarami tayo sabihin mo ikaw ibang pamilya, ako ibang pamilya.” Pagkatapos pupunta kayo kay barangay kapitan, punta kay mayor., “mayor, ibang pamilya ito, ibang pamilya ito.”

So, iyon ang sinasabi ko. Siguro kailangan may kaunting self-assessment din ang ating mga kababayan. Marami na po ang nangangailangan, so if you can be a good neighbor, mabuti tayong tao sa ibang tao, gawin na lang po natin. Huwag lang tayong mag-take-advantage dito.

From Vanz Fernandez/Police Files Tonite Online/DZRJ: “During your IATF meeting, ilang porsyento ang pabor for extension at… Thanks. If in case there will be an extension, will you set-up additional guidelines?”

Yes, yes. Of course, whatever it is whether it is extension, partial lifting, total lifting or may ibang masasakop sa ECQ or from ECQ i-downgrade, whatever it is mag-i-issue kami ng guidelines. Ngayon, ilang poryente ang pabor or hindi, hindi po kami nagbilang, hindi po kami nagtaasan ng kamay.

Clarification lamang po from DSWD and Department of Finance: Pensioners are not included in the low income families… so, iyong pensioners ano. The first criteria is ‘low income.’ And among the low income families, priority is senior citizens, solo parents, etc. Tandaan: Dapat kabilang kayo sa low income families. So, sana maliwanag po iyon.

So, mga kababayan, we’re going into our … the Holy Week – Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday. Pagdating po ng Easter Sunday, iyon po iyong original… Easter Sunday is April 12, so iyon po iyong original dapat na 11:59 P.M. ng Easter Sunday iyon po dapat iyong end ng original na ECQ natin. So, kailangan po natin magdesisyon talaga, we have to make a decision and we have to make it as soon as possible.

But it will not be an easy decision, napakahirap po. It’s very, very difficult only because ang daming factors na kailangan naming tingnan – kapakanan ng taumbayan, ang health, economics, social, security, lahat po iyan, medical. Ang dami … ang dami naming tinitingnan. And we appreciate all of the recommendations that we’ve been hearing and getting from the different sectors – from the business, the academe, lahat po iyan tini-take in consideration po namin.

But para scientific at data driven po itong lahat na ito, may na-set kaming parameters, lalagyan namin ng weights ang lahat, iko-consider po namin ang lahat.

Pakiusap ko lamang po: Ano man ang magiging desisyon ng IATF, ano man ang magiging final decision ni Pangulong Duterte, suportahan po natin dahil hindi naman ito gawa-gawa lamang o kinuha lang namin sa kung saan-saan. Ito po ay dala ng masinsinang pag-aaral ng lahat ng mga eksperto na nariyan. Hindi lamang eksperto dito sa ating bansa kung hindi mga eksperto din mula sa ibang mga bansa na kung saan nakikita natin kahit sila po ay hirap na hirap na rin po.

So, kung ano man ang magiging desisyon namin whether it’s today or tomorrow or sa makalawa or sa susunod na mga araw ay magkaisa po tayo at suportahan po natin ano man ang maging desisyon na iyan.

So, muli, maraming, maraming salamat sa lahat ng tumutulong, lahat ng nagdsadasal. Ngayong panahon ng Kuwaresma doblehin pa natin ang pagdasal po natin, triplehin po natin. Maging mas matindi pa po ang ating pagdasal.

Maraming, maraming salamat po and may God bless and protect each and every one of you.

Maayong buntag. Daghang salamat sa tanan.

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SOURCE: PCOO-NIB (News and Information Bureau-Data Processing Center)