By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia asked the help of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Regional Director Evelyn Macapobre in appealing the reduction in the number of beneficiaries of the social amelioration program (SAP) of the national government for residents affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a letter titled “Protest letter on the reduction of beneficiaries for the social amelioration grant from the national government thru the DSWD,” Leonardia said he was “shocked” after learning from local social services head Pacita Tero that the original 103,658 SAP beneficiary-families in Bacolod had been slashed to 98,143 families.
Leonardia said it was “made clear to us previously that the quota of 103,658 families EXCLUDES those already enjoying their social amelioration grants” such as 4Ps beneficiaries, and those receiving similar grants from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor and Employment.
The chief executive said the change in the quota means barangay captains “will now have to eliminate” 5,515 families from their lists which were prepared on the basis of the original number.
“We protest this belated and untimely adjustment in the strongest terms,” Leonardia said, as he pointed out that the original quota was “already short of our need” and thousands of families had already been made to believe that they can expect assistance from the national government.
“This is excruciatingly painful to the barangay officials who will have to make this cut and, more so, to those families whose expectations will be crushed.”
Leonardia also requested for an immediate written explanation from Macapobre on why the quota was cut without any warning, and after the barangay captains had already identified the families concerned who are, by now, naturally expecting their share.
