In times like this where we’re struggling to make it out of a global pandemic with our finances intact, we need all the help we can get. Some of these benefits might not be available to us during quarantine but they’d certainly be helpful once we’re out of this mess and we start piecing our lives back together again.

With the country’s economic breaks in full stop due to the Enhanced Community Quarantine, not a lot of money is going around local establishments these days. But that doesn’t necessarily spell the end for business owners and employees as our government offers a range of programs that aim to assist its citizens by providing financial aid for acquiring medicine, social housing, education, and food just to name a few.

Head on over to www.gov.ph to view a complete list of services available for the public. Once you’ve accessed the site, click on the “Services” tab and select an option that best suits your situation.

COVID-19 related assistance:

Over the past couple of months, COVID-19 has ravaged through the lives and livelihoods of a number of people. Since then, the Philippine government has set up programs to assist those who were hit the hardest, ranging from the poorest of the poor to the lower, middle, and upper-middle-class citizens. These programs were made so everyone eligible will have food and monetary assistance throughout the duration of the quarantine.

Recently, we’ve been seeing waves of news regarding the Social Amelioration Program.

This program falls under the Department of Social Welfare (DSWD) for their implementation – cash assistance of P5000-P8000 for 18 million low-income families whose earning capacities have been severely affected by the Enhanced Community Quarantine. While all low-income families are already considered to be part of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), families who are beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) need not apply for cash assistance as it will be deposited directly into their bank accounts.

Here are the steps to apply for SAP’s financial aid:

1. DSWD representatives will require you to fill out a Social Amelioration Card (SAC)

2. Person to sign must be the head of the family

3. Remember to completely fill out the form, must be written in capital letters

4. Complete two copies of the SAC, one copy for yourself and others to be archived by the LGU

5. Funds will be distributed by DSWD and other connecting agencies through the LGU

Aside from low-income families, families with members included in the list below are eligible to receive cash assistance through SAP according to House Speaker Alan Cayetano:

• Persons with disabilities

• Pregnant women

• Solo parents

• Senior citizens

• OFWs in distress

While it hasn’t been finalized whether middle-class families would receive financial assistance from the government, the president has already stated that it is valid to include them in the Social Amelioration Program albeit funding for these families remains unclear.

The Department of Labor and Employment, however, has set up the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers Program or TUPAD which aims to assist underemployed, self-employed and displaced workers through the community-based package of assistance.

The program lasts for a minimum period of 10 days and offers social, economic and agroforestry community projects for any of its beneficiaries. It’s a program that provides emergency employment and skills training to individuals that qualify under the program’s guidelines. Learn more about it here.

In times of so many uncertainties, it's best to have as much in-case-of-emergency items in as many aspects as possible. Try ALLCARE's HMO + benefits package, a complete benefits package with the health and wellness back-up you'll need!