DND orders military to assist in giving cash

May 13, 2020

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana ordered the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) to assist the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on distributing cash assistance for the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries.

 Arsenio Andolong, Department of National Defense (DND) public affairs chief, said the directive was issued by Lorenzana to AFP Chief of Staff, Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. after President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the DSWD secretary to tap the military to help them on cash aid distribution.

"The Defense Secretary issued the guidance to the AFP following the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to the AFP to assist the DSWD in distributing cash assistance to poor households under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP)," he said.

Andolong said Lorenzana told the AFP all area commanders must “field sufficient force to avoid ambuscades or attacks whether on the move or at the distribution venue."

Following the issuance of the directive, the AFP assures that the military will comply with Duterte's order.

“We feel the expressed desire of the President to provide immediate intervention measures to address the need to bring amelioration assistance to the people forthwith. The AFP will comply,” said Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo, AFP spokesman , in a statement.

“Hearing this directive from the Commander in Chief, our Field Commanders will institute necessary adjustment in our troops deployment," he added.

Andolong said "pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law, the government allotted P200-billion emergency subsidy for about 18 million low-income households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic." Robina Asido/DMS