Duterte admits gov't has no more funds for aid

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 3) — President Rodrigo Duterte said government has run out of funds to provide aid for people.

In a late night address on Sunday, the President said, "Ngayon, magsabi kayo i-lockdown mo na ang Maynila, ang ibang lugar, the entire Philippines para talaga wala nang mahawa. Wala ka nang mahduterteawaan, wala ka nang mahawa. Problem is wala na tayong pera. I cannot give food anymore and money to people."

[Translation: Now you say put Manila, other areas, the entire Philippines under lockdown so there will be no more transmissions...the problem is, we have no more money.I cannot give food anymore and money to people.]

The President said the government's savings was just good "for a drizzle," adding the country should not be compared as the value of local currency's exchange rate to the US dollar is low.

The Bayanihan to Heal as One Act authorized Duterte to provide an emergency subsidy of ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 each to 18 million low income families once a month for two months for the first tranche of the social amelioration program.

A second tranche included families who were not included in the first round of aid.

As of July 29, the Department of Social Welfare and Development said around 6.9 million beneficiaries included in the second tranche have received aid.

The target number of beneficiaries for the second aid tranche is 8.5 million families in areas under enhanced community quarantine.