2021 National Human Rights Situation Report 53 loan are no longer qualified. The GSIS said qualified borrowers with existing emergency loans could borrow up to P40,000.185 210 For faster distribution of aid to low-income families, the DSWD will provide a list of beneficiaries of the Emergency Subsidy program to local governments under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).186 211 Senators urged the government to scrap “unnecessary items” in the 2021 budget such as the Php9.5B confidential and intelligence funds and the Php19.1B anti-insurgency fund; instead the money should be diverted to additional aid for poor residents.187 212 Reports on a questionable list of beneficiaries in the Php22.9B cash aid flow were received by the Office of Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta Rep. Jericho Nograles. The list includes minors, Filipinos based abroad and even dead persons. They urged the DSWD, the DILG, and the Commission on Audit (COA) to investigate the matter. Only 31 percent or Php3.4B of the Php22.9B were distributed to low income earners in Metro Manila.188 213 President Rodrigo Duterte signed an administrative order that will grant a one-time Php20,000 financial aid to pensioners of the Employees’ Compensation (EC) program. The EC program was designed to provide compensation to private and public workers, as well as their dependents for work-related sickness, injury, or death. Around 31,000 pensioners of the Social Security System (SSS) and GSIS will benefit from the financial assistance under Administrative Order 39.189 214 In a Focus Group Discussion (FGD) conducted by CHR on the right to social protection of the Workers in the Informal Economy/Sector (WIES) in the NCR in June 2021, Ms. Judith Gondra, Chief Economic Development Specialist of NEDA, discussed the strategies for workers in the informal sector in the latest Philippine Development Plan (PDP) 20172022 to provide the context on the government’s initiative for the sector. The PDP’s strategies for workers in the informal sector are mainly lodged under the “Pagbabago” Transforming Towards Equity and Resiliency pillar. In this pillar, economic and social opportunities will be ensured for all in order to transform society and achieve equity and resiliency in particular towards the digital economy. Hence, this will include the digital transformation of the agriculture industry, and services sectors, as well as increase the provision of training on digital skills for the workforce. Relevant outcome goals for workers in the informal economy include expanding economic opportunities, transforming human capital development towards greater agility, ensuring food resiliency, and reducing vulnerabilities of the Philippines.190 215 In the same FGD conducted by CHR on the right to social protection of the workers in the informal economy/sector (WIES) in the NCR, Ms. Maria Lourdes Gonzales, Chief 185 Philippine Daily Inquirer (2021). GSIS offers COVID-19 emergency loans. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer. net/1409423/gsis-offers-COVID-19-emergency-loans 186 Valenzuela, N. (2021). DSWD list to help speed up aid distribution. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer. net/1413566/help-hasten-aid-distribution-dswd-asks-local-govts 187 Yap, D. (2021). Use intel, anti-communist funds for cash aid, senators urge gov’t. Retrieved from https://newsinfo. inquirer.net/1417692/use-intel-anti-red-funds-for-cash-aid 188 Aurelio, J. & Salaverria, L. (2021). Minors, dead, Filipinos abroad in cash aid list. Retrieved from https://newsinfo. inquirer.net/1420163/minors-dead-pinoys-abroad-in-cash-aid-list 189 Yumol, D. T. & CNN Philippines (2021). Duterte signs order granting ₱20,000 aid to pensioners. Retrieved from https:// cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/4/19/Duterte-signs-order-granting—20-000-aid-to-pensioners.html 190 Commission on Human Rights. (2021). A Human Rights Situation Report: The Right to Social Security of the Workers in the Informal Economy / Sector.