Following the extension of enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in high-risk areas, Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque announced that the second wave of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) will only be distributed to families residing in areas that remain under lockdown.

“Iko-consider po ang re-prioritizing ng SAP cash subsidy towards ECQ areas,” Roque explained in the Inter-Agency Task Force online briefing aired earlier this morning. The spokesman noted that the second wave of cash aid distributions will now be limited to the National Capital Region, Regions III and IV-A, Pangasinan, Benguet, Mindoro, Albay, Catanduanes, Antique, Iloilo, Cebu, Davao del Norte, Davao de Oro and Davao City.

Prior to this, the government announced that they have allocated P200 billion for social amelioration measures during the quarantine. This was to be distributed to 18 million households in sectors that are most vulnerable during the crisis. Low-income households in Metro Manila will be receiving P8,000 while other regions will be receiving P5,000 based on regional minimum wage.

Earlier this morning, President Rodrigo Duterte announced that the ECQ will be extended for high-risk areas. Areas with moderate to low risk will be placed under general community quarantine (GCQ), meaning a number of restrictions will be lifted.

Under a GCQ, public transportation systems will be allowed to operate at a limited capacity, malls will be allowed to open non-leisure shops, while priority and essential construction projects will resume. Industries such as agriculture, food manufacturing and retail, healthcare, telecommunications and media will be allowed to resume full operation.

[READ: ECQ extended for high-risk areas. Here’s a rundown of Duterte’s latest IATF briefing]

Header photo by Richard A. Reyes of Inquirer.net

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