DILG: Cash aid reaches 61% of beneficiaries

Published May 2, 2020 3:12:57 PM

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 2) — The government has distributed cash assistance to about 61% of the 18 million low-income families targeted under the social amelioration program, with six days to go before the deadline, the Interior Department reported on Saturday.

“Ang magandang balita po diyan, umabot na po kagabi ng 61% ang nabigyan na ng SAP doon sa 18 million families, [….] kasama na po diyan ‘yung kasama sa 4Ps, hindi kasama sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), at mga drivers sa National Capital Region,” DILG Spokesperson Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a public briefing.

[Translation: The good news is that we have already reached out to 61% of the 18 million families, including the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and drivers in the National Capital Region.]

He highlighted that the department, with the help of the LGUs, may be able to achieve 70% completion of the assistance by tomorrow.

“So hinihikayat po ng DILG ang lahat ng ating mga [local] government units na seryosohin na po natin ito. Tuloy-tuloy na po natin itong ipamigay, kasi wala na pong ibibigay na extension si Secretary Eduardo Año at si Secretary Ronnie Bautista. No more extension. You are given only up to May 7 to finish the distribution,” Malaya emphasized.

[Translation: That’s why the DILG is encouraging all our local government units to take this seriously. Ramp up the distribution, because (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año and (DSWD) Secretary Ronnie Bautista will no longer extend the deadline. No more extension. You are given only up to May 7 to finish the distribution.]

The DILG also warned barangay officials who are allegedly splitting up the cash aid “to provide for all families.”

“Maliwanag po sa batas, sa Bayanihan Act, sa guidelines at joint memorandum circular, at sa omnibus guidelines na bawal pong hatiin ang SAP na ito. [….] ‘Yan po ay pinagbabawal sa batas, at pwede silang (barangay officials) masuspinde at makulong pa,” its spokesman said.

[Translation: It is clear in the law, in the Bayanihan Act, in the guidelines and joint memorandum circular, and in the omnibus guidelines that the SAP fund cannot be divided. That is against the law. They (barangay officials) may be suspended or sent to jail because of that.]

Malaya said concerned beneficiaries may directly report to the department, should they encounter such instances, or have evidence on the matter.

The DILG assured that the national government has provided additional funding for the local government units to help families who were left out of the social amelioration program.

SOURCE: https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/5/2/DILG-SAP-61-percent-families-DSWD-coronavirus.html