DILG gives LGUs Thursday to send list of cash aid beneficiaries

May 28, 2020

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) gave local government units (LGUs) until Thursday to liquidate and submit the encoded list of beneficiaries for the second tranche to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Interior Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the government is preparing for the release of the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) but only 472 LGUs out of the 1,634 LGUs nationwide have submitted their liquidation reports for the first tranche as of May 26, 2020.

“As per directive of Secretary Eduardo Año, LGUs must finish their liquidation report for the first tranche and submit it together with the encoded list of beneficiaries to the DSWD. Only then can we proceed with the 2nd tranche,” Malaya said.

He added LGUs are also asked to accept returns or refunds of SAP cash aid by beneficiaries who received similar benefits from other government agencies such as 4Ps or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, Department of Labor and Employment’s COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP), and Social Security System’s Small Business Wage Subsidy (SBWS).

“All returned cash subsidies may be given to “left-out” families within their jurisdiction prior to liquidation, provided they are qualified to receive the SAP based on DSWD guidelines,” Malaya said.

“Every unreturned amount means that a similar family in need is deprived of cash aid,” he said.

For cash aid returned by beneficiaries after the liquidation by LGUs, Malaya said this shall be remitted to DSWD field offices and an official receipt must be issued to the beneficiaries as proof of refund.

Malaya hopes that the payout of the second tranche of SAP cash aid would be more efficient and systematic considering that LGUs must have  learned lessons and ironed out the kinks and lapses during the first payout.

“We recognize the huge difficulties encountered by LGUs in the SAP distribution of the first tranche.  It is quite understandable because this is the biggest financial cash aid for poor families in the country’s history,” he said.

He assured the DSWD and the LGUs that the Philippine National Police (PNP) is ready to assist them during the distribution of the second tranche in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas of the country.  Ella Dionisio/DMS