3.7M SAP beneficiaries get P22.7-B aid: DSWD

FILE: Sixty-nine-year old Armando Cruz Prado (sitting), receives PHP8,000 in cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the distribution of cash assistance under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) at Barangay Doña Josefa in Quezon City on Wednesday (April 29, 2020). (PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as of July 22, has distributed PHP22.7 billion to 3.7 million beneficiaries under the second tranche of the government’s social amelioration program (SAP).

“Mahigit PHP22.7 billion ang na-distribute through manual and digital payouts sa 3.7 million family beneficiaries (We have distributed PHP22.7 billion through manual and digital payouts to 3.7 million family beneficiaries),” DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said during a briefer on Thursday afternoon.

Of the 3.7 million families, more than 1.3 million were Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, while more than 1.

3 million were non-4Ps beneficiaries from the Ilocos, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Davao, Cordillera, and National Capital regions.

Some 1.1 million families were those who were not included in the first batch of SAP aid.

Although only a few days are left before the July 31 deadline set by the DSWD to complete the distribution of the second tranche of the SAP aid, Bautista said they are confident that they would meet it through the department’s “innovative use of (the) ReliefAgad app and the help of financial service providers.”

He, however, clarified that aid would come to beneficiaries in areas that have conflict, geographically isolated, and disadvantaged, not later than August 31.

In their social media posts, several beneficiaries have extended their gratitude to the DSWD staff for reaching out to them despite the public health crisis.

The mayor of Tudela, Cebu, Greman Solante, lauded the financial relief to 1,831 family beneficiaries in his municipality.

“(On) behalf of those who received the aid, I’d like to thank the IATF, including DSWD, for extending help,” Solante said in a post.

The IATF is the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases.