Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 16) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development has provided cash assistance to over 17 million households so far amid the coronavirus pandemic, the agency reported on Saturday.
“Sa pangkalahatan, nakapagpahatid na ang DSWD ng mahigit ₱96.59 billion sa mahigit 17 million na beneficiaries ng SAP,” DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in a Laging Handa virtual press briefing.
[Translation: Overall, the DSWD has delivered over ₱96.59 billion to more than 17 million beneficiaries of SAP (social amelioration program).]
Of the total amount, ₱78 billion had already been distributed by local governments to 12.8 million households, she added.
Local government units have also been receiving resource augmentation from the department, particularly through additional food packs and assistance in their implementation of social pension for indigent senior citizens, said Dumlao.
Each beneficiary must receive full cash aid amount
Dumlao reminded local authorities that they must provide each qualified family the COVID-19 emergency subsidy, which ranges from ₱5,000 to ₱8,000, in full instead of dividing the amount among households.
Low-income families whose members are part of low-income or vulnerable sectors are eligible for the cash aid, the official said.
“Mangyari lamang pong ibigay natin yung entire amount dahil ito ay close approximation dun sa halaga na kakailanganin po nila para matugunan ang kanilang pangunahing pangangailangan,” she explained.
[Translation: Can we kindly provide the entire amount because this is a close approximation to the actual amount they will need in order to meet their basic needs.]
Dumlao also encouraged the public to report cases of halved SAP distribution to the agency.
The government initially announced 18 million qualified households shall be receiving the said subsidy per month for two months, with the first tranche being scheduled in April and the second one in May. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque revealed later on that five million more beneficiaries left out of the LGUs’ lists shall be included in the first round of cash aid distribution.
In today’s briefing, Roque also said they are still awaiting the official memorandum from the Office of the Executive Secretary regarding the second tranche of financial assistance.
READ: Around 11 million families to get second tranche of COVID-19 cash aid – DSWD
On Friday, Malacañang confirmed that President Rodrigo Duterte will be seeking help from Congress regarding the funding for the emergency subsidy’s second round.
