Families not part of SAP list can be included in second tranche if they are qualified under DSWD

May 19, 2020

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año assured  families left out from  the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) they will be included as long as they are qualified under the guidelines of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Año directed all local government units (LGU) to identify the households who were left out in the distribution.

“Do not worry as the government will help you. We are giving the LGUs three days to submit their initial list to us in DILG and to the DSWD which in turn will validate that list,” he said.

Through a DILG Memorandum Circular, Año directed local chief executives to identify these low-income households and submit to the DILG regional offices and the DSWD field offices a list on or before May 21.

Año said “left-out or wait listed households” are low-income families who are not recipients of any  conditional cash transfer and not included in the initial 18 million households who benefited in the 1st tranche of SAP financial assistance.

The DSWD estimated around five million qualified families that were not included in the first tranche of the distribution.

Año said the initial list shall be prepared by the barangays regardless of the length of stay in the locality and voter’s registration of the members of the household,

The list  must be posted in conspicuous places in the community and on its social media platforms for public viewing and access, said Año

He added those with complaints about the initial list of the barangay may appeal to the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office or with their mayor. If no action is taken, the complainant may raise his concern with the DSWD.

In the memo circular, Año clarified that the said list “shall in no way be construed as the final list of beneficiaries which shall still be subject to further validation by the DSWD.”

“Again, this will be in coordination with the barangay officials, I am warning these barangay officials that we will not tolerate those who will abuse this list and even the second tranche of SAP,” Año said.

Año said 23 barangay officials involved in graft and corrupt practices in the distribution of SAP assistance are facing criminal charges.

Twelve criminal cases are filed against these barangay leaders with four more to be filed in the coming days. Ella Dionisio/DMS