Some local government units (LGUs) in Negros Oriental have rolled out the first tranche of cash assistance under the national government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in their respective localities last week.
This was disclosed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD-7) in their official Facebook page.
In Mabinay town, 856 families out of the 11,988 target beneficiaries received the emergency cash subsidy amounting to P5,136,00 during the pay-out held April 13.
In Jimalalud town, 529 Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT) Listahanan beneficiaries out of the 4,775 total number of SAP beneficiaries in the area received the cash aid amounting to P3,174,000 during the payout held April 14.
In Ayungon, 3,194 families out of 8,047 target beneficiaries received the SAP cash assistance during the payout held April 16.
The total amount disbursed was pegged at P19,164,000.
In Zamboanguita town, there are 449 families out of 5,331 identified beneficiaries of SAP who have received the cash assistance amounting to P2,694,000 during the payout held April 16, 2020.
Meanwhile, Dauin Municipal Public Information Officer Marnie Credo disclosed that they have also released the cash aid to 2,375 SAP beneficiaries and 1,004 UCT recipients in their town on April 17.
The figures already include the qualified residents living in Apo Island.
In a special conference with the media recently, DSWD-7 Regional Director Rebecca Geamala said LGUs are expected to roll out the first tranche of SAP from April 13 to 17.
It was also noted in the said conference that the municipal government of Manjuyod was the first LGU in Negros Oriental to extend the cash subsidy to its constituents.
The first batch of payout was held April 9 and the total amount disbursed in Manjuyod was P6,084,000.
Around 1,014 families received the cash assistance.
Each family which was included in the list of SAP beneficiaries received P6,000.
The amount was indicated in DSWD Memorandum Circular No. 6 noting that the P8,000 cash subsidy is intended for SAP beneficiaries in Metro Manila.
Geamala also explained that the amount is supported by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“Ang sa Region 7, according to NEDA, P6,000 ang atong poverty threshold. So iyon ang amount na ibigay sa kanila for two months (According to NEDA, the poverty threshold in Region 7 is pegged at P6,000. That is reason why the cash assistance was set on that amount. However, they will receive P6,000 for two months),” Geamala said.
SAP funds were given to LGUs through fund transfer scheme.
Once the LGUs receive the amount, they have to notify DSWD and the Philippine National Police (PNP) who will assist them in the disbursement of the funds and security of the area.
DSWD-7 Assistant Regional Director Shalaine Lucero disclosed that the department has targeted 250,021 families who are not beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and 71,263 families who are 4Ps beneficiaries in Negros Oriental whose livelihood were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic to be covered under SAP.
During the DSWD-7 media conference held in Dumaguete City recently, both officials underscored that the cash assistance is intended for the “poorest among the poor.”
Geamala reiterated that only the low-income families can avail of SAP.
DSWD cited some of these include 4Ps, informal economy workers either directly hired, occasional workers like laundry washer, carpenters, etc, or sub-contracted workers like masons and laborers, homeworkers, tricycle drivers, farmers, fisherfolks who are not members of 4Ps or any programs of the Department of Agriculture, stranded workers who were displaced or whose livelihood were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Aside from these, members of vulnerable sectors like Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and senior citizens who are not receiving pension can also qualify for SAP.
Moreover, those individuals covered by UCT are also included in SAP.
“Ang kanang atong UCT, they are called non-4Ps. Ang UCT naglangkop sa tulo ka grupo. Ang 1st group sa UCT ang Pantawid, ang ikaduha nga grupo ang social pension, and the third group of the UCT beneficiary katong UCT Listahanan. Under this SAP, ang kanilang social pensioner of indigent senior citizen, as long as they are in a family where the combined income of the family is low, affected by Covid pwede nato sila hatagan. Ang kaning UCT Listahanan priority gyud ni sila na maapil sa SAP (The UCT are called non-4Ps. This is comprised by three groups. The first is the UCT-Pantawid, the second is the social pensioner, and the third group of UCT beneficiary is UCT-Listahanan. Under this SAP, those who are covered by the social pension for indigent senior citizens are qualified provided their combined family income falls within the low-income category or affected by COVID-19. While the UCT-Listahanan is really a priority for SAP),” Lucero explained. (ral/PIA7-Negros Oriental)