MANILA -- Local government units have 4 days or until April 30 to finish the distribution of cash subsidies to poor families during the coronavirus pandemic, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said Monday.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said there was no excuse for LGUs to delay the distribution of cash aid since the Department of Social Welfare and Development transferred the funds to them.

"Ang bilin natin sa lahat ng LGUs ay bilisan ang pagbibigay natin sa kanila ng ayudang nanggaling sa pamahalaan,” he said in a statement.

(Our instruction to all LGUs is to fast-track the distribution of aid in their localities.)

Under the social amelioration program (SAP), the government aims to provide cash aid, ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 to 18 million poor families in 2 tranches -- from April to May.

“Magsisimula na tayo ng pamimigay ng second wave ng SAP sa Mayo (We will start the second wave of the SAP in May). Let us ensure that all families left out who belong to the master list will also receive the emergency subsidy this time,” Año said.

The government has set aside a P200-billion budget to fund the program, which began earlier this month.

Social Welfare Sec. Rolando Bautista on Monday said almost 97 percent of the funds had been transferred to LGUs for distribution to poor families.

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