Rappler's latest stories on emergencies
Barangay officials in W. Visayas accused of cash aid anomalies
Two barangay chairmen and other government employees are accused of approving unqualified beneficiaries
Automated DSWD subsidy a problem in far-flung areas with no ATMs
Only 1.3 million out of the targeted 13.5 million poor families have received the second tranche of the cash aid promised to them
LIVE: House hearing on DSWD's emergency subsidy program
Watch the hearing live on Monday, June 22, at 1 pm
DSWD vows no more anomalies after LGUs removed from cash aid distribution
Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista guarantees that since the DSWD will no longer transfer funds to local government units, local officials can no longer meddle with the cash aid
DSWD cash aid might be subject to withdrawal fees
The DSWD partners with more financial service providers to conduct payouts for the emergency subsidy program, but beneficiaries may have to pay a withdrawal fee of up to P50 to receive them
Almost 300,000 families have yet to receive April cash aid – Malacañang
This does not include the 5 million waitlisted families from across the country that were added to the program
DSWD says cash aid will continue after Bayanihan Act expires
The emergency subsidy program was created in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which Malacañang says expires on June 25
Lawmakers berate DSWD regional directors over delays in aid distribution
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano tells DSWD regional directors that not following the policies ordered by their superiors could be seen as 'insubordination'
Lawmaker slams DSWD for distribution policies that caused crowds
Making cash aid beneficiaries line up at distribution points could have caused COVID-19 transmission, says Anakalusugan Representative Mike Defensor
DSWD ready to shed light on cash aid delays in House probe
The House is set to begin investigating the delays in the government's cash aid program on Monday, June 22
Cayetano, House leaders seek probe into delays in DSWD subsidy program
The ranking lawmakers hit the Department of Social Welfare and Development for its failure to streamline the distribution process, forcing beneficiaries to wait for weeks
DSWD cash aid comes after Michelle Silvertino dies
The family of the stranded worker, who died while waiting for a bus ride home to Bicol, receives P15,000 and educational and livelihood assistance
DSWD begins 2nd tranche of cash aid with 4Ps beneficiaries
The long-awaited cash aid for May begins on the second week of June
Cayetano warns gov't officials over 'inexcusable' Bayanihan law problems
Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano says the House 'will be having an accounting' of the problematic implementation of the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act
Año says families of some erring barangay officials got cash aid
DILG files criminal complaints to some 155 barangay officials over alleged cash aid distribution irregularities
Filipinos can now receive cash aid from gov't via PayMaya
Beneficiaries can go to Smart Padala branches to retrieve the funds from their PayMaya e-wallet
[OPINION] Why the emergency subsidy program affects PWDs the hardest
'News reports [indicate] how PWDs suffered from their attempt to avail of the subsidy benefit, such as lining up despite excruciating pain for the entire day'
DSWD eyes distribution of cash aid for 2nd tranche this week
After failing to give out the cash aid in May, Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista says the DSWD has already prepared the guidelines on the distribution of the second tranche of the financial subsidy
Emergency digital library sued over 'brazen' copyright violations
Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, John Wiley & Sons and Penguin Random House say the free digital library is in violation of copyright law
As May ends, DSWD unable to release cash aid for 2nd tranche
The DSWD calls on local governments to submit liquidation reports so it can complete validation
No coronavirus emergency cash aid for June – Roque
An exception may be made for families living in areas that have been placed under localized ECQ by mayors and governors
134 barangay officials face criminal complaints over cash aid anomalies
Anomalies committed by the barangay officials include splitting of amounts, falsification of the list, getting a cut or 'tara' from beneficiaries, among others
DSWD asks for 'understanding' as cash aid for May remains delayed
Nearing the last week of May, the DSWD says it is still waiting for a directive from the Office of the President on the distribution of emergency cash subsidies for the second tranche
Military to help give out cash subsidy in remote, critical areas
The government will no longer entrust the cash aid's second installment to local governments, following reports of anomalies in the distribution
23 barangay officials face criminal charges over cash aid distribution
Barangay officials are accused of falsifying the list of beneficiaries and getting a cut or 'tara' from the emergency subsidy program
DSWD, DICT launch ‘ReliefAgad’ app for electronic cash aid distribution
Beneficiaries of the government’s coronavirus cash aid program can choose to receive their subsidies through mobile banking apps like GCash and PayMaya
EBRD sounds warning for virus-hit emerging economies
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development warns that 'longer-term economic, political, and social effects' could deepen the painful downturn
DSWD vows faster distribution of coronavirus cash aid this May
Almost 600 local governments have yet to complete cash aid distributions for the month of April
Caraga completes distribution of emergency subsidy to non-4Ps families
The Department of Social Welfare and Development lauds the local government units' efficient implementation of the emergency subsidy program in the Caraga region
5 million more families 'waitlisted' for emergency subsidy program
Poor families who appealed after being initially excluded from the government's list of cash aid beneficiaries are now part of the additional 5 million who will receive aid
Lockdown cash aid reached only 56% of target beneficiaries in April
Under the government's emergency subsidy program, 18 million poor families are supposed to get cash subsidies of P5,000 to P8,000 for April and May
European Central Bank ready to reload as 'unprecedented' slump hits
'The euro area is facing an economic contraction of a magnitude and speed that are unprecedented in peacetime,' says European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde
DILG, DSWD extending deadline for LGUs to complete April cash aid
DILG chief Eduardo Año says they understand that it is difficult to distribute cash aid while observing physical distancing in areas that are densely populated, like in Metro Manila
Local officials could face charges if cash aid isn't distributed by April 30
The DSWD says it is in constant coordination with local governments in speeding up the distribution of emergency subsidies
Rappler Talk: Ex-DSWD chief Dinky Soliman on assessing the emergency subsidy program
Former DSWD secretary Dinky Soliman says collaborative, evidence-based, and empowering approaches would greatly impact aiding the poor in the coronavirus lockdown
DSWD partners with DICT for automated emergency subsidies
The DSWD and DICT are working together to develop an app that would facilitate electronic cash transfers for poor families affected by the coronavirus lockdown
[EXPLAINER] State auditors have bad news for COVID-19 ‘epal’
Officials who plaster their names and pictures on government-funded relief goods and materials will be obliged by COA to pay back
May emergency subsidies to be delayed if LGU fails to report April payouts – DSWD
As of April 22, only around 31% target beneficiaries have received emergency subsidies from the DSWD
FALSE: P57-B 'balance' in DSWD subsidy even if all families get coronavirus cash aid
The computation used here does not consider that the P200-billion emergency subsidy covers two months and is given only to the target 18 million low-income families
Barangays ordered to publish names of residents eligible for DSWD cash aid
Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya says this is needed for 'transparency purposes' and to protect barangay officials
Pasig starts distributing subsidy, passes ordinance vs discrimination of virus cases
Adopting a similar ordinance from the City of Manila, Pasig Mayor Vico Sotto says people who harass suspected or confirmed coronavirus patients, health workers, and other frontliners will be punished
DSWD to LGUs: Distribute emergency subsidy first, validation later
The DSWD amends its guidelines to speed up the distribution of emergency subsidies to families in need during the coronavirus crisis
DSWD asks LGUs to fund emergency subsidies for families not on gov't list
In its 'appeal to the nation,' the DSWD also seeks the public's understanding on how it prioritized the recipients of its emergency subsidy program, saying these people need help to 'survive this crisis'
All Pasig families to receive cash aid but Vico Sotto asks the well-off to waive it
There’s not enough time or data on hand to identify who are actually needy, so all the city’s residents not on the DSWD emergency subsidy list will receive P8,000, says the Pasig mayor
Sotto asks LGUs to shoulder cash aid for families not on emergency subsidy list
'Abonohan mo muna, makakasingil ka naman sa gobyerno,' says Senate President Vicente Sotto III, who also wants a probe into the national ID system often blamed for the slow disbursement of cash aid to low-income families
195 cities, municipalities still can't access DSWD emergency subsidy
They still have not done the proper paperwork, Malacañang says in its latest report to Congress on the government's coronavirus response
Pasig City to cover poor families not on DSWD emergency subsidy list
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto vows to give cash assistance to families who were cut from the Department of Social Welfare and Development's list of beneficiaries
Submerged by debt: Emerging economies at risk from virus
Many emerging economies were already in dire straits before anybody had heard of COVID-19. Their situation is now worse.
[ANALYSIS] Coronavirus lessons from Japan, South Korea, and Vietnam
If we were to seriously learn lessons from other countries' experiences, then President Duterte needs to shift his mindset
National Emergency Library lets users freely borrow 1.4M books
The National Emergency Library seeks to fulfill the 'unprecedented global and immediate need for access to reading and research materials' during the coronavirus pandemic
