By Jennifer P. Rendon
The Department of Social Welfare and Development Vi (DSWF-6) has released P 5,072,466,000 from the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to 80 local government units (LGUs) in Western Visayas.
In a virtual presser, the DSWD-6 said that the amount was already downloaded to 80 of the 133 LGUs in the region as of 8 p.m. of April 13, 2020.
DSWD Assistant Secretary for Specialized Programs Rhea Peñaflor identified 30 LGUs in Iloilo province, 12 in Antique; three each from Capiz and Guimaras; 30 in Negros Occidental; the cities of Bacolod and Iloilo.
In Iloilo, the LGUs that already received their funds are Cabatuan, Calinog, Tubungan, Bingawan, Banate, San Rafael, Mina, Janiuay, Balasan, Barotac Viejo, Guimbal, Pototan, Zarraga , Dueñas, Oton, Passi City, Alimodian, Ajuy, Tigbauan, New Lucena, Badiangan, Barotac Nuevo, San Enrique, Igbaras, San Joaquin, Dumangas, Miag-ao, Estancia, Maasin, and Anilao.
In Antique, these towns are Hamtic, Tibiao, Barbaza, Sebaste, Culasi, Patnongon, Anini-y, Libertad, Belison, Laua-an, Valderrama, and Tobias Fornier.
Only three LGUs in Capiz received the SAP funds – Dumarao, Roxas City, and Mambusao.
In Negros Occidental, the funds were already downloaded to Calatrava, Cadiz City, Himamaylan City, Vallladolid, Pontevedra, Manapla, Ilog, Escalante City, Isabela, Cauayan, Binalbagan, Victorias City, Silay City, EB Magalona, Don Salvador Benedicto, Hinigaran, La Castellana, Toboso, San Carlos City, Bago City, Moises Padilla, Murcia, Hinoba-an, Sipalay City, San Enrique, La Carlota City, Pulupandan, Sagay City, Candoni, and Kabankalan City.
Meanwhile, the towns of San Lorenzo, Jordan, and Sibunag and Guimaras also received their shares.
Aklan has yet to submit its SAP requirements.
Peñaflor said other LGUs have also submitted their requirements and their SAP fundings will be downloaded soon.
Under the agency’s memorandum, the LGU should conduct the distribution or the pay-out within five calendar days. It could be extended to 7 days to areas geography isolated or disadvantaged areas.
Peñaflor and DSWD-6 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre both clarified that SAP is intended to help vulnerable families weather the crisis.
Vulnerable families are the target beneficiaries of the program:
- 4Ps Beneficiaries
- Informal economy workers
- Directly hired or occasional workers (labandera)
- Subcontracted workers
- Homeworkers
- Househelpers and family drivers
- Drivers of pedicab, tricycle, PUJs, PUVs, PUBs, taxi, and transport network companies registered vehicles
- Transport network vehicle service drivers (grab drivers)
- Micro-entrepreneurs and producers, operators of sari-sari stores
- Family enterprise owners (carenderia owners, fruit/vegetable vendors, RTW)
- Sub-minimum wage earners (dishwashers or helpers in carenderia)
- Farmers- not 4Ps and not covered by DA’s Soc. Amelioration Package
- Employees affected by “no work, no pay”
- Stranded workers
Also entitled are other households with members belonging to any of the vulnerable sectors:
- Senior Citizens
- Persons with disability
- Pregnant and lactating mothers
- Solo Parents
- Indigent Indigenous Peoples
- Underprivileged and homeless individuals
- Other members of the vulnerable sectors
But in the case of senior citizens, they must support a family and do not receive pensions.
Even if there are two or more qualified beneficiaries in a family, only one will be entitled to the P6,000 cash assistance.
For solo parents, they would be entitled to get the assistance if they have no work and their child is in their custody.
For individuals who did not receive the assistance but are deemed qualified, the head of the family could seek for reconsideration to be included in the list within a period of three days.
The formal appeal would be submitted to the office of Macapobre or the DSWD Operations Division.
Meanwhile, Macapobre clarified that 4Ps members will automatically be entitled to the cash aid. But the amount is on top on what they received from 4Ps.
Macapobre said they were able to download the amount to 311,000 4Ps beneficiaries in the region.
The DSWD-6 has also allocated funds for 4Ps who have no cash cards yet.
