Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 7) — The Department of Interior and Local Government has extended the deadline for the distribution of the first tranche of its social amelioration program to Sunday, May 10.
The rollout of the program was extended by three more days nationwide, as most local government units failed to meet Thursday’s deadline.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año acknowledged difficulties encountered by localities with high population density. These include Metro Manila, Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, Cebu and Davao City.
“We have received reports from our field offices na kahit na 24/7 ang pamimigay ng ayuda ay mahihirapan talagang mameet ng LGUs ang May 7 deadline lalo na ‘yung mga nasa Metro Manila,” Año said in a statement. “We are therefore giving them until May 10 para makumpleto lahat ‘yan.”
[Translation: We have received reports from our field offices that despite the 24/7 distribution, LGUs could not meet the May 7 deadline especially those in Metro Manila. We are therefore giving them until May 10 to complete this.]
Año said the League of Cities of the Philippines, the League of Municipalities of the Philippines, and the Metro Manila Development Authority requested the extension of the deadline.
This is the second extension of the SAP distribution, as the national government initially targeted April 30 for the completion of the program.
“Nasa pangalawang round na ng distribusyon ng SAP (We are now in the second round of SAP distribution). LGUs by now have learned the ropes of the efficient distribution mechanisms in communities,” he said, noting that such loopholes must be addressed to ensure that cash aid is being received in full amount.
At least 985 LGUs have already completed their distribution to date, with majority coming from Western Visayas and Bicol Region. The Department of Social Welfare and Development will validate with LGUs to ensure that subsidies were given to appropriate recipients.
Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista said in a briefing that 13.5 million low-income families or 75 percent of the 18 million households targeted by the program have received aid.
Metro Manila mayors previously requested for an extension of the deadline, citing problems in validating beneficiaries and house-to-house distribution in areas with high COVID-19 cases.
DSWD still waiting for Duterte’s signal on 2nd tranche release
The DSWD is also waiting for the directive of Malacañang on the second tranche of SAP subsidies.
Meanwhile, Interior Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the distribution could reach 80 percent within the day. He also expressed confidence that the remaining 20 percent of beneficiaries will receive their aid in the next three days.
“We expect na ito po ay aabot ng 80 percent or more ngayong gabi before the end of this day…Kumpiyansa po kami sa DILG na matatapos po ng lahat ng government units ‘yung kanilang pamimigay before the end of the three-day period,” he told CNN Philippines’ Balitaan.
[Translation: We expect that the distribution will reach 80 percent by tonight, before the end of this day. We at the DILG are confident that all local government units will complete their rollout before the end of the three-day period.]
“Ang lalabas na kautusang ito ang magiging basehan ng ahensya upang ipatupad ang bagong panuntunan sa SAP,” said DSWD Undersecretary Rene Paje.
[Translation: This directive will serve as the basis of the agency on the new guidelines of SAP distribution.]
Some ₱96 billion was allotted for the second tranche of the cash aid program. This will now cover 23 million families after President Rodrigo Duterte approved last Saturday the inclusion of five million families in the cash subsidy program.
“Naglagay ang DSWD ng appeal system kung saan ang eligible beneficiaries na hindi napabilang ng kanilang lokal na pamahalaan at hindi existing beneficiaries sa ibang program, sila ang target beneficiaries na kasalukuyan ay wait-listed,” Paje said.
Meanwhile, Pasay City’s cash aid distribution rate is at 56.5%, equivalent to more than 26,000 beneficiaries.
[Translation: The DSWD has established an appeal system wherein eligible beneficiaries who were not included by their localities and are not existing beneficiaries of another program, they will be the target beneficiaries who are currently wait-listed.]
Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the national government has allotted ₱200-billion-worth of aid for those most affected by COVID-19. Subsidy ranges from ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 per household per tranche, depending on the minimum wage level in a region. The first tranche was originally scheduled in April and the second one in May.
The DSWD flagged yesterday the local government for the backlog.
Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubio told CNN Philippines’ Newsroom Ngayon that the payout delay was due to the tedious process of identifying the beneficiaries.
“Nung una medyo mabagal kasi napakahirap po yung proseso, yung pagpili at pag-cross match with the 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) [beneficiaries], senior citizens, and etc,” she said.
[Translation: It was slow at first because the process is difficult, the process of selecting and cross-matching with the list of 4Ps beneficiaries, senior citizens, and etc.]
