Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 29) – Half of the target beneficiaries have yet to receive COVID-19 social amelioration program a day before the deadline of the first batch of cash distribution.
Department of Social Welfare and Development Spokesperson Irene Dumlao mentioned on Wednesday the agency distributed ₱45.6 billion of cash aid to 8.7 million beneficiaries from the start of its distribution last March 30.
Despite still having a huge number of target beneficiaries who did not receive the cash aid from the national government, Dumlao assured they are fully cooperating with the Department of Interior and Local Government to complete distribution of the emergency subsidies.
“Base po doon sa mga natatanggap nating reports eh patuloy naman po na nagsasagawa ang mga LGUs ng kanilang payout activity and we trust and hopefully ma-meet po nila and they would be able to complete itong payouts sa kani-kanilang mga lugar,” told Dumlao.
[Translation: Based on the reports we receive, LGUs continue to carry out their payout activity and we trust and hopefully meet them and they will be able to complete these payouts in their respective areas.]
The DSWD Spokesperson also clarified they have transferred the social amelioration funds for beneficiaries in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
“It will be the BARMM who will be distributing the emergency subsidies among their constituents,” said Dumlao, referring to the BARMM regional government.
Indigent families who are part of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the informal sector are qualified to receive ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 cash aid from the national government due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the country.
Dumlao reminded local government units to submit their liquidation report, 15 days after completing the distribution of the first tranche of the emergency subsidy program brought by the COVID-19 crisis.
“Kasama dyan yung report of disbursement and the encoded matrix of the social amelioration card forms,” said Dumlao.
[Translation: That includes the report of disbursement and the encoded matrix of the social amelioration card forms.]
The liquidation report of LGUs should be submitted in the DSWD Field Office, Dumlao added. After reviewing the report, the DSWD will release the second batch of cash aid to the LGUs.
“Base po doon sa isasagawang review ng DSWD and granting po na magiging maayos ang lahat, konkreto po lahat ng mga documents na ipinresinta o isu-submit ng mga LGU, we could transfer naman po the funds within 24 hours. Kagaya rin po nung ginawa natin during the first tranche,” said Dumlao.
[Translation: Based on the DSWD review and granting reviews that all will be well, all documents submitted or submitted by the LGUs, we can transfer the funds within 24 hours. It’s the same thing we did during the first tranche.]
Dumlao assured the ₱96 billion funds for the second tranche of SAP is now ready. The Department of Budget and Management transferred the funds to them last April 17.
The enhanced community quarantine is extended up to May 15 in Metro Manila, Central Luzon (except Aurora), and CALABARZON regions. The provinces of Pangasinan, Benguet, Iloilo, and Cebu are also covered by the quarantine extension.
