DSWD leads distribution of SAP to 23M low-income families
Published May 12, 2020 12:00 am
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Amid its limited capacity, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) nodded on Tuesday, May 12, to President Duterte's directive to lead the distribution of the emergency subsidies to 23 million low-income families under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista
(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista assured the public that they are now exploring ways on how to expedite the distribution of the SAP subsidies, including the "digital payment" of the cash aid to the beneficiaries. "Ang DSWD na po ang mamamahagi ng SAP para sa benepisyaryo ng social amelioration program at sa karagdagang limang milyong pamilya ng first tranche at para sa second tranche katuwang ang DND (Department of National Defense), at AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) alinsunod na rin sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo kagabi," he said in a virtual press briefing. (The DSWD will distribute the SAP for the beneficiaries of social amelioration program and for the additional five million families for the first tranche and for the second tranche in partnership with the DND, and AFP based on the directive of the President last night.) "Gayunpaman aantayin pa rin ng DSWD ang written directive o executive order mula sa Office of the President para magsisilbing gabay namin sa gagawin naming guidelines sa implementasyon ng second tranche," Bautista said. (The DSWD will wait for the directive o executive order from the Office of the President to serve as our guide for the drafting of the guidelines on the implementation of second tranche.) On Monday night, President Duterte directed the DSWD to lead the SAP distribution following the snowballing complaints against the purported irregularities in the release of emergency subsidies. Bautista said the DSWD will closely coordinate with the AFP, DND, and other stakeholders so that there will be expeditious and efficient distribution of the cash aid. "Sinisiyasat ng DSWD kung pano nito mapapabuti ang pagpapahatid ng pangalawang bahagi ng ayuda sa ilalim ng emergency subsidy-Social Amelioration Program na takdang ipamigay ngayong buwan ng Mayo," he said. (The DSWD is studying ways on how it will improve the delivery of the second wave of cash aid under the emergency subsidy-Social Amelioration Program that is scheduled to be distributed this month of May.) "Inaaral namin kung pano magagamit ang digital o online wallets para sa walang contact na pamimigay ng ayuda. Marami po tayong stakeholders na tumutulong para ganun mabawasan kung anuman ang gap sa implementasyon ng second tranche," he added. (We are studying how to use digital or online wallets for no contact distribution of the aid. We have many stakeholders who have been helping out to address the gap for the implementation of the second tranche.) In a Viber message, DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said they are hoping to finalize the details on the planned digital payment this week. Bautista said the cash subsidies for the additional five million beneficiaries will be sourced out from the SAP funds for the second tranche. A total of P96 billion has been released to the DSWD to implement the second wave of aid. During the briefing, the DSWD Chief disclosed that P92.1 billion has been distributed to 16.3 million SAP beneficiaries nationwide, 12.2 million of whom are non-Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. Aside from the 12.2 million low-income and non-Pantawid families, more than 3.72 million recipients of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) received P16.35 billion worth of emergency subsidies through their cash cards, while 278,433 4Ps beneficiaries who are non-cash cardholders were given P1.01 billion in subsidies. A total of 40,418 families of Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers also got P323.4 million subsidy allocation. Bautista said the 1,035 of the 1,634 LGUs have completed their SAP payouts, while 141 LGUs have submitted their liquidation reports. He encouraged the LGUs to immediately submit their liquidation reports after completing the payout so as not to further delay the second phase implementation of SAP. Under the DSWD guidelines, the LGUs are required to submit the liquidation and financial reporting documents, including the list of encoded SAP beneficiaries, to the DSWD within 15 days from the completion of the distribution. Bautista said the DSWD through its Regular Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) has provided P202.6 million in financial assistance to 44,707 clients who have COVID-19 related concerns. Of the AICS clients, 6,478 are stranded individuals. Also included in the list of AICS beneficiaries were 2,803 clients who were given burial assistance worth P20.5 million; and 3,793 clients who were also assisted by the Department through guarantee letters, amounting to P19.4 million. Bautista said the DSWD also continues to provide augmentation support to the LGUs, citing they have provided 737,010 Family Food Packs (FFPs) worth P285.9 million nationwide.
DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista(PCOO / MANILA BULLETIN) DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista assured the public that they are now exploring ways on how to expedite the distribution of the SAP subsidies, including the "digital payment" of the cash aid to the beneficiaries. "Ang DSWD na po ang mamamahagi ng SAP para sa benepisyaryo ng social amelioration program at sa karagdagang limang milyong pamilya ng first tranche at para sa second tranche katuwang ang DND (Department of National Defense), at AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines) alinsunod na rin sa direktiba ng ating Pangulo kagabi," he said in a virtual press briefing. (The DSWD will distribute the SAP for the beneficiaries of social amelioration program and for the additional five million families for the first tranche and for the second tranche in partnership with the DND, and AFP based on the directive of the President last night.) "Gayunpaman aantayin pa rin ng DSWD ang written directive o executive order mula sa Office of the President para magsisilbing gabay namin sa gagawin naming guidelines sa implementasyon ng second tranche," Bautista said. (The DSWD will wait for the directive o executive order from the Office of the President to serve as our guide for the drafting of the guidelines on the implementation of second tranche.) On Monday night, President Duterte directed the DSWD to lead the SAP distribution following the snowballing complaints against the purported irregularities in the release of emergency subsidies. Bautista said the DSWD will closely coordinate with the AFP, DND, and other stakeholders so that there will be expeditious and efficient distribution of the cash aid. "Sinisiyasat ng DSWD kung pano nito mapapabuti ang pagpapahatid ng pangalawang bahagi ng ayuda sa ilalim ng emergency subsidy-Social Amelioration Program na takdang ipamigay ngayong buwan ng Mayo," he said. (The DSWD is studying ways on how it will improve the delivery of the second wave of cash aid under the emergency subsidy-Social Amelioration Program that is scheduled to be distributed this month of May.) "Inaaral namin kung pano magagamit ang digital o online wallets para sa walang contact na pamimigay ng ayuda. Marami po tayong stakeholders na tumutulong para ganun mabawasan kung anuman ang gap sa implementasyon ng second tranche," he added. (We are studying how to use digital or online wallets for no contact distribution of the aid. We have many stakeholders who have been helping out to address the gap for the implementation of the second tranche.) In a Viber message, DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said they are hoping to finalize the details on the planned digital payment this week. Bautista said the cash subsidies for the additional five million beneficiaries will be sourced out from the SAP funds for the second tranche. A total of P96 billion has been released to the DSWD to implement the second wave of aid. During the briefing, the DSWD Chief disclosed that P92.1 billion has been distributed to 16.3 million SAP beneficiaries nationwide, 12.2 million of whom are non-Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries. Aside from the 12.2 million low-income and non-Pantawid families, more than 3.72 million recipients of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) received P16.35 billion worth of emergency subsidies through their cash cards, while 278,433 4Ps beneficiaries who are non-cash cardholders were given P1.01 billion in subsidies. A total of 40,418 families of Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers also got P323.4 million subsidy allocation. Bautista said the 1,035 of the 1,634 LGUs have completed their SAP payouts, while 141 LGUs have submitted their liquidation reports. He encouraged the LGUs to immediately submit their liquidation reports after completing the payout so as not to further delay the second phase implementation of SAP. Under the DSWD guidelines, the LGUs are required to submit the liquidation and financial reporting documents, including the list of encoded SAP beneficiaries, to the DSWD within 15 days from the completion of the distribution. Bautista said the DSWD through its Regular Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) has provided P202.6 million in financial assistance to 44,707 clients who have COVID-19 related concerns. Of the AICS clients, 6,478 are stranded individuals. Also included in the list of AICS beneficiaries were 2,803 clients who were given burial assistance worth P20.5 million; and 3,793 clients who were also assisted by the Department through guarantee letters, amounting to P19.4 million. Bautista said the DSWD also continues to provide augmentation support to the LGUs, citing they have provided 737,010 Family Food Packs (FFPs) worth P285.9 million nationwide.