Andina

Peru: Government approves draft bill for continuity of grants to COVID-19 orphans

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Council of Ministers

Photo: ANDINA/Presidency of the Council of Ministers

18:31 | Lima, Jun. 16.

Peruvian Prime Minister Violeta Bermudez has announced that the Executive Branch on Wednesday approved a draft bill for the continuity of the S/200 (about US$51) government grant aimed at minors orphaned by the loss of one or both parents due to the pandemic.

"It seeks to ensure the granting and continuity of economic assistance aimed at contributing to the comprehensive development of children and adolescents, whose mother, father, or both, have died from COVID-19 during the health emergency," Bermudez told reporters.

"This draft bill seeks to give continuity and sustainability to the grant that was approved a few months ago for the benefit of this age group," she added.

The government official recalled that the Government had enacted —through an Urgency Decree— the allocation of S/200 (about US$51) monthly in support of children who were orphaned and did not rely on any type of insurance or social protection.

"The idea is to provide them with long-term sustainability, a pension until they are of legal age," she explained.

Once passed by Congress, the amounts for this benefit may be incorporated into the public budget every year.

Today's remarks were made during a press conference held at the Government Palace in Lima.

(END) MDV/MVB

Published: 6/16/2021