By Joseph B.A. Marzan
Qualified beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in Iloilo City can expect to receive their P6,000 cash aid soon, as the city government begins its roll-out process.
In a press conference on Wednesday, April 15, Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas had confirmed that city hall has received over P475 million in funds from the DSWD for 79,215 identified beneficiaries.
The City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) will start distribution of the cash aid today, April 17, 2020.
SAP beneficiaries, who have been identified by barangay officials, will receive the cash aid after presenting their Social Amelioration Cards and valid ID cards.
The cards were printed by the city government through the CSWDO.
Two barangays in the city, Punong in Lapuz and Magsaysay in City Proper, will be the first to receive the aid.
The SAP will benefit the city’s most vulnerable sectors which include Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, informal economy workers, directly hired occasional workers and public transport drivers, among others.
Treñas had previously vented out his anger on the DSWD after it previously announced that it would only receive the list of SAP beneficiaries until April 3.
The mayor initially said that the city will not be able to comply with the deadline and might not receive the cash aid.
The SAP was expanded to other beneficiaries to augment their needs during the Enhanced Community Quarantines (ECQ) in various parts of the country.
The ECQ order issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in March covers only Luzon and the MIMAROPA Region.
Iloilo City was placed under ECQ since March 20, 2020, through Executive Order No. 055-2020 to stem the quick spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Originally set to run until April 14, it was extended to April 30 through Executive Order No. 061, which the mayor issued on April 8.
CASH-FOR-WORK FOR NON-RECIPIENTS
Treñas also said that he has put the city’s Cash-For-Work program on hold to give way to the SAP.
He added that the Cash-For-Work program will be given to residents who are not qualified for SAP.
Recipients of the Cash-For-Work program will not be getting as much as the recipients of the SAP but Treñas assured that the city government will provide help.
“Dira na sila masulod sa aton Cash-For-Work, meaning nga they will not be getting as much as [the SAP] pero ti may ara gid kita mahatag. That’s why gin-hold ko anay ang aton nga Cash-For-Work kay hulaton ta anay masulod ang tanan sa [SAP], mabal-an sang barangay kun pila ang waay nasulod then pasudlon ta sa Cash-For-Work,” he said.
The Cash-For-Work program initiated by the city government will benefit vulnerable sectors.
Under the program, 20,000 city residents identified by barangays were supposed to receive P2,500 in cash aid.
The funds for the program came from the P98-million COVID-19 response fund which was formally allocated by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council on March 19.
It was approved by the Iloilo City Council in a special session on March 20.
