56 Addressing Inequality During the Pandemic to the imposition of the hard lockdown. It was not specified, however, whether the buildings and offices have the appropriate accessibility features for persons with disabilities. f Concerning the processing time of the claims, more than half of the participants claimed that it took them more than five (5) working days before their applications were processed. g The DSWD estimated that 18 million households nationwide were entitled to receive emergency cash subsidies ranging from PhP 5,000 to 8,000 based on respective regional wage rates for two months starting April 2021 and the participants affirmed that they received the 1st and 2nd tranche of the cash subsidy. Unfortunately, the assistance was not sufficient to cover the basic necessities of a family of five (5). The WIES are spending PhP 8,666.70 monthly for food alone and PhP 20,397.30 for other basic necessities. Assuming they received the two (2) tranches, PhP 16,000 is still not enough to cover the monthly expenditure of the family of five (5) for two (2) months especially for the WIES who suddenly lost their livelihoods. Additionally, the release of the 2nd tranche of the cash subsidy was delayed and started its payout only in July 2021. This has even caused challenges for them as they have to stretch out the first cash assistance to more than a month until they receive the second payout. h For the workers in the informal economy consulted, they find non-bank and informal financial institutions relatively easy to access because of the absence of the tedious and strict process of verification and qualification of formal financial institutions. These informal financial and credit facilities such as “5-6”, moneylenders and pawnbrokers, rotating savings and credit association, among others, fill the gap of accessing financial services which overcome the lack of collateral requirements, bureaucratic loan application, disbursement procedures, the time and resources needed to visit the banks and discriminatory banking culture. i A significant number of the participants have not been consulted by the government on policies relating to the right to social security.197 Right to Vote 222 In 2017, the Palawan Provincial Board unanimously passed a resolution to divide the province of Palawan into three (3) provinces, which will be composed of Palawan Del Sur, Palawan Del Norte and Palawan Oriental. 198 223 On 05 April 2019, Republic Act No. 11259 was signed by the President into law dividing Palawan into three (3) provinces. The act will only take effect should the citizens/registered voters in the province ratify or vote in favor of the law in a Plebiscite.199 224 Eventually, on 16 March 2021, the Commission on Elections Provincial Plebiscite Board of Canvassers proclaimed that “NO/ HINDI” won in the Plebiscite that asked “PUMAPAYAG KA BA NA HATIIN ANG PROBINSYA NG PALAWAN SA TATLONG (3) PROBINSYA NA PAPANGALANANG: PALAWAN DEL NORTE, 197 CHR Consultation with the workers in the informal economy/sector. June 2021. 198 Commission on Human Rights Regional Office IV-MIMAROPA. (2021, July). Regional Human Rights Situation Report for January to June 2021. 199 Commission on Human Rights Regional Office IV-MIMAROPA. (2021, July). Regional Human Rights Situation Report for January to June 2021.