The Government, through the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), carried out the second phase of the US$ 200 subsidy payment to eligible claimants, for a total of more than 2,000 households. The second phase payment team consists of employees from each municipality’s Social Solidarity Centre, in cooperation with the Local Authorities, including the Village (Suco) police officers (OPS). This second payment phase started on Monday (November 23rd, 2020).

The total number of claimants, by municipality is as follows: Dili, 1,291; Ainaro, 120; Aileu, 98; Baucau, 304; Bobonaro, 17; Covalima, 130; Ermera, 31; Lautém, 84; Liquiçá, 386; Manatuto, 109; Manufahi, 31; RAEOA, 266; and Vikeke, 22.

In this second phase of payments, the Director of the Social Solidarity Centre of the Municipality of Manatuto, Reinaldo Soares said that, according to the claimants’ data approved in this municipality, there were still 109 aggregates to receive, but the team ended up making only the payment to 95 claimants, since some cases were duplicated and other had already received in the first phase, but the name remained on the list for the second phase.

On his hand, Carlos de Alves, the Head of Village (Suco) Orlalan, Administrative Post of Laclúbar, Municipality of Manatuto, said that the payment process for the second phase went well, but, as a local authority, he was not satisfied with the Central Government, because many claimants did not see their names included in the second phase payment’s approved list. There were 17 claimants in the Orlalan, Village (Suco) but only 2 were approved.

“I recommend MSSI to take responsibility for people who have not yet received this subsidy, particularly with regard to the claimants who are not on the approved list. The Ministry must respond again, so that they can receive it”, said the Head of Orlalan Village (Suco).

The head of the payments team in the municipality of Dili, João Bosco Mendonça, explained that out of a total of 4,872 families who filed a complaint in the municipality of Dili, 1,284 were approved, and the team is currently making payments. According to this source, in some villages of Dili the payment has already ended, but there are some villages where the payments have not yet been made, because of some disagreements. Even so, the team continues to make payments. During payments, there were also a total of 26 beneficiaries who did not come to receive the subsidy, so the team will return this money to the bank.