DILG commends 826 LGUs that paid SAP assistance

May 5, 2020

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday commended the 828 local government units (LGUs) nationwide that completed the payout and met the deadline for the distribution of the first tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) financial assistance.

“Good job on the LGUs who already distributed the SAP cash subsidy to poor families. You just prove your concern to your constituents,” Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said.

He urged the 828 LGUs to liquidate immediately as this will be their next challenge.

Of the 828 LGUs who beat the May 4 deadline, 56 are in the Cordillera Administrative Region; 38 in Ilocos Region; 31 in Cagayan Valley, 36 in Central Luzon, 63 in Calabarzon, 62 in Mimaropa, 70 in the Bicol region, 114 in Western Visayas, 52 in Central Visayas, 95 in Eastern Visayas, 71 in Zamboanga Peninsula; 17 in Northern Mindanao; 26 in Davao region; 32 in Soccsksargen; and 65 in Caraga.

Interior Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the status of the SAP payout for the whole country is at 75 percent, with Caraga, Davao Region, Mimaropa and Bicol leading the  regions.

“Just few more push and we will finish this. For our LGUs, let’s move fast so that the aid will reach our people,” Malaya said.

For LGUs that have not yet completed the payout, Año said they have to work double time for the benefit of their poor constituents who are severely affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

“One moment of delay or inaction means additional hours of suffering of poor families in your localities.   Let us not keep them waiting and let us show them that the government truly cares for them,” he said.

Provincial LGUs were given a four-day extension for the SAP distribution while  Metro Manila LGUs and the provinces of Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan, and Cebu and Davao City, which have high-density population, were given until May 7 to complete the payout from the April 30 deadline earlier set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The secretary also urged SAP beneficiaries to use the cash subsidy that they received wisely to enable them to last the ECQ.

He warned that SAP beneficiaries who are also engaged in gambling and drinking and who use the financial aid other than the intended purpose will be delisted, required to return the full amount or sanctioned depending on the severity of their offense.

Caraga’s regional payout rate as of the deadline Monday is at 99.01 percent, Davao region at 95.56 percent, MIMAROPA at 95.21 percent, and Bicol at 94.34 percent.

Closely following are Western Visayas at 88.42 percent, Zamboanga Peninsula is at 84 percent, Ilocos Region has 80.11 percent payout rate, Central Luzon is currently at 79.27 percent,  Cagayan Valley is at 73.36 percent, Soccsksargen  is at 77.56 percent.

Meanwhile, Calabarzon has 61.99 percent payout rate and Northern Mindanao is at 67 percent.

“We understand that the LGUs are faced with various challenges unique to your areas amidst the COVID-19 crisis but we trust that you will be able to overcome them and carry out measures to fast track the payout to your constituents without violating the ECQ protocols of physical distancing,” Malaya said. Ella Dionisio/DMS