2.65M workers of small businesses received cash aid - Duterte

The number of employees of small businesses who received cash aid from the government amid the COVID-19 pandemic has already reached 2.65 million.

In his eighth weekly report to Congress, President Rodrigo Duterte said P20.4 billion had been released by the Social Security System (SSS) to 2,654,155 beneficiaries of the Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS) program.

The P51-billion financial assistance ranges from P5,000 to P8,000 per tranche for every beneficiary, depending on the minimum wage levels in their respective regions. The payout schedule for the first tranche was from May 1 to May 15.

Duterte said the Bureau of Treasury transferred to the Development Bank of the Philippines on May 13 the remaining P25.5 billion for the distribution of the second tranche, which was slated from May 16 to 31.

Beneficiaries of the Labor department’s cash assistance program will also receive subsidy during the second tranche minus the P5,000 already received under the COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP).

The President said employers were asked to disclose in their SBWS application which employees have received assistance under the CAMP. -- BAP, GMA News