DSWD is targeting the complete the first round of emergency subsidy distribution by April 30.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 22) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development acknowledged on Wednesday that the government’s delivery of cash aid to more than half of its target beneficiaries was delayed due to lack of manpower and challenges in logistics.
“May mga challenges tayo sa pamimigay ng ayuda sa mga island municipalities,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao told CNN Philippines’ Balitaan.
[Translation: We face challenges in giving assistance to those in island municipalities.]
To address this problem, Dumlao said they are asking help from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine Coast Guard to transport and distribute subsidies to low income families.
To date, only 5.3 million out of the 18 million low income families have received their financial assistance since the DSWD started releasing funds for the social amelioration program to local governments on April 3.
Under the program, those who are financially suffering due to the coronavirus crisis are eligible to get ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 for two months, depending on the prevailing minimum wage rates in the area where they live.
Those in Metro Manila could get up to P8,000 while those in other regions will receive P5,000 to P6,000.
Families covered include the homeless, those with at least one member who is on a no-work-no pay situation, a senior citizen, a solo parent, a person with disability or a pregnant and lactating woman. Full list could be accessed here.
Dumlao then appealed for the understanding of the beneficiaries, as she assured them that help is on the way.
“Batid po ng DSWD na marami na po marami po sa ating kababayan an naghihintay na po ng kanilang ayuda. Kung kaya nga po ang DSWD ay humihingi po ng kaunting pang-unawa,” she said.
[Translation: We recognize that a lot of our fellow Filipinos are waiting for financial help. That is why the DSWD is asking for understanding.]
“Pinagsisikpan po ng ating pamalaan, gayundin ng mga local government units na maipahatid po itong tulong sa ating mga kababayan,” she added.
[Translation: The national government and local governments are working hard to bring assistance to our countrymen.]
Earlier, the DSWD had eased procedures to fast-track the distribution of the funds to families.
Under the amended guidelines, the government will now check the qualification of beneficiaries after they have received the aid. Previously, LGUs had to first submit a validated list before funds were given to them.
However, the field offices of the department have yet to transfer funds to more than 300 cities and municipalities, as they have not yet complied with the social amelioration program requirements. Among them are entering into a memorandum of agreement with DSWD and submitting budget proposals.
President Rodrigo Duterte said in his fourth report to Congress that the DSWD has turned over ₱73.8 billion or 91 percent of the total social amelioration fund for April to the LGUs, which are tasked to deliver the aid.
Under the almost month-old Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, Duterte is required to deliver a weekly report to Congress every Monday, to detail what the government has done to address the COVID-19 crisis in the past week.
