DSWD has enough funds to give second tranche of SAP

April 27, 2020

Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista on Monday assured the pubic they have enough funds for the second tranche of social amelioration program (SAP) which is to be distributed by May.

In a virtual briefing, Bautista said based on the Bayanihan Act the P200 billion emergency cash subsidy allotted by the government is enough to support the 18 million low income families.

“This will be implemented for two months… the fund is enough for two months,” he said.

He added even with the extension of ECQ in some areas in Luzon until May 15 there will still be enough funds for them to distribute.

“The implementation of SAP includes the month of May that’s why even if there are some areas extended, we can assure those who are affected by the COVID-19 crisis that they can still receive assistance from the government,” Bautista said.

Based on their data, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) transferred almost 97.13 percent or P80 billion of the first tranche of SAP to 1,514 out of the 1, 632 local government units as of Sunday, April 26.

Bautista said LGUs  distributed P37 billion to almost 7.3 million beneficiaries of SAP where P20.3 billion were received by 3.5 million SAP beneficiaries, P16.4 billion received by 3.7 million 4Ps beneficiaries and P323.3 million received by 40, 418 Transport Network Vehicle Services (TNVS) and Public Utility Vehicles (PUV) drivers.

Bautista said the DSWD is distributing cash assistance with the local government units.

He added the Interagency Technical Working Group on Social Amelioration Program composed of DSWD, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of Finance and Department of Budget and Management are creating a proposal on the implementation of SAP.

This is based on the April 24 pronouncement of President Rodrigo Duterte extending enhanced community quarantine in some areas with “high risk” of COVID-19 infection and general community quarantine in areas with reported “low risk” of infection.

“This will be our basis in creating guidelines for the distribution of SAP for the second tranche… we assured that these guidelines will be align or consistent on the Republic Act 11469,” Bautista said.

Bautista said the delay in distribution of SAP in some areas is due to  geographically isolated disadvantage or some areas are heavily infected by the virus prompting LGUs to ask DSWD workers to delay the distribution.

“We also have frontliners who were infected that’s why the other workers who had contact need to undergo quarantine… short of saying, we are also decreasing in the number of workforce on the ground,” he said.

Bautista said the Philippine Air Force lent some of planes so DSWD workers can go to island or coastal municipalities and cities.

“Challenge also is validation but nevertheless, our DSWD field offices are assisting the LGUs to ensure the despite the challenges, they can fast track the distribution of financial assistance,” he said.  Ella Dionisio/DMS