Barangays to distribute SAC forms to Covid-19 aid beneficiaries

FILE: Local government officials of Barangay Salitaran III issue and check quarantine passes at Molino Homes 2, Salitran 3 in Dasmariñas City, Cavite on Monday (March 23, 2020). (PNA photo by Gil Calinga)

MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday said it has already downloaded the Social Amelioration Card forms through its field offices to local government units.

“The local government units (LGUs) in turn have printed and distributed the forms through the barangay officials,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.

Dumlao also clarified that the beneficiaries will both receive “cash and in-kind allocation” from the DSWD.

“Provided that the benefit received will not exceed the maximum subsidy per region,” she said.

Albay Representative and House Ways and Means Committee chair Joey Salceda shared the breakdown of cash subsidies to be received by some 18 million low-income households amid the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine to mitigate the spread of the deadly virus.

The breakdown stated that the beneficiaries from the National Capital Region (NCR) will receive the highest amount at PHP8,000, while those in Central Luzon and Calabarzon regions will receive PHP6,500.

Other regions will receive around PHP5,000 to PHP6,000

The emergency subsidy is under Section 4C of Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act to which the government has allotted P200 billion cash assistance.

The cash subsidy schedule was based on the upper limit of the daily minimum wage in each region, Salceda said.

In its report submitted early Tuesday, Malacanang said 8,641 beneficiaries had received PHP5,000 in financial assistance from the Covid-19 Adjustment Measures Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

The program has initially set aside PHP1.3 billion to support workers whose employers in the private sector have implemented flexible work arrangements or have temporarily closed due to COVID-19.

Stated in the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (RA 11469), the poor families will receive the monthly emergency subsidy for two months.

“The subsidy shall be computed based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rates,” RA 11469, inked by President Rodrigo Duterte on March 24, stated.

It also said that the subsidy received from the current conditional cash transfer program and rice subsidy should be taken into consideration in the computation of the emergency subsidy.