COVID-19 food baskets, wage subsidy abused

The report shows that most local authorities had not complied with the COVID-19 Food Relief Response also known as the food basket programme. Government in 2020 budgeted about P150 million for social protection packages for people affected by the imposed lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The amount catered for food baskets and their transportation as well as for remuneration of temporary social workers roped in to assist during the pandemic. The programme was rolled out through local government authorities.

At the time when the assessment to identify eligible households began, there were mixed reports with some members of the community questioning the criteria used to qualify one for the programme. Some people complained that they had not received the relief package and expressed anger over being overlooked for assessment by social workers.