By Joseph B.A. Marzan
The Iloilo City government aims to hasten the release of cash grants from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Social Amelioration Program (SAP) after Mayor Jerry Treñas announced changes to the distribution protocols on Thursday, May 7.
The SAP is a program of the DSWD to assist qualified low-income families in response to the effects of the Enhanced Community Quarantines (ECQ) due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis.
Under the SAP, families in the informal sector, including those also in the vulnerable sectors such as Senior Citizens, Persons with Disabilities, and Indigenous People, will receive a cash grant from P5,000 to P8,000.
According to the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), 18,994 beneficiaries have received their cash grants, with P113,964,000 of funds released.
SAP has 79,215 qualified family beneficiaries in Iloilo City at P 6,000 cash grants for each.
In a press conference on Thursday, Treñas announced the new protocol for the SAP distribution, which was coordinated with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the DSWD and the CSWDO.
Under the new protocols, all qualified beneficiaries will receive their grants at the Freedom Grandstand.
The mayor said that those who will be in line to receive their grants will be exempted from curfew provisions under Ordinance No. 2020-056.
“We’ve also met with DILG Iloilo City Director Roy Defiño together with the CSWDO and the DSWD because we need to hasten our distribution of the SAP. The plan we approved was that we would be distributing all grants at the Freedom Grandstand, and those who will be lining up will be exempted from the curfew because it may extend up to the evening,” he said.
Treñas clarified that despite the exemption from quarantine, beneficiaries will still need to present their ECQ passes together with their valid IDs.
“When we go through with the procedure, everyone will be exempted from curfew. They just have to bring their quarantine pass and a valid ID. When they get their pass, they would need an ID, and when they get their SAP [grant], they will still need an ID. When they go home, they would still have their ID,” he said.
Treñas said that the city government will provide the transportation for beneficiaries in coordination with barangays.
“As I’ve said, we will arrange that. We will make sure that we will also be bringing the grantees to their barangays. We will provide, because otherwise if we don’t, it will only lengthen the distribution. We want to finish this already,” he said.
Treñas said he wants to finish the distribution by May 14, 2020.
“Maybe tomorrow unless they can’t arrange it as soon as possible, but it will be easier if we do it [at the Freedom Grandstand] because there won’t be delays, the presence of personnel [is secured], and the only thing needed will be the recipients. We want to give this out before [May 14]. We’ve already asked for an extension but we want to give this out before [May 14]. So we are looking at P50 million a day for distribution so we can distribute all of the money,” he said.
He also addressed ECQ policy concerns, saying that the city will work out its fears on lack of social distancing during distribution activities.
“The distribution at the Freedom Grandstand has not been crowded so far. What we will do is that all of those who aren’t on schedule will be downstairs and will then go up afterwards. We will try to make sure that there will be no violations of social distancing measures. As much as possible, there will be necessary protocol,” he said.
EXTENSION WOES
Treñas admitted that he was anxious to meet SAP distribution guidelines like the bonds which are requirements to secure cash advances as part of the disbursement of government funds.
The mayor said that these cash advances are also necessary in speeding up the release of money for the distribution.
“We looked for additional personnel to do cash advance because there was only a limited number of people who can receive them and this would be the first time we would be releasing money this huge. We have secured more grantees and hopefully we can expedite the process of distributing the SAP. That’s why I looked for more people who can apply for bond to do cash advance. Even me, who doesn’t have bonds, I have to apply so I can do cash advance even for this. I’m expecting 20 more people for this,” he said.
He said that while DILG Secretary Eduardo Año has not yet responded to his letter seeking an extension of the SAP deadline, the city is assuming that it will be extended.
The nationwide deadline for the SAP given by the DSWD and the DILG was yesterday, May 7.
“We are working on the assumption that it will be extended, that is our theory. We still have money to give, around P350 million. If we can release a minimum of P50 million a day, we can finish this. I don’t have exact figures for the barangays, but I do have the amount, which is P350 million. When we divide that by P50 million per day, that would be seven days [of distribution],” he said.
