DSWD, LTFRB partner with GCash for faster, contactless SAP distribution
By Charrisa Luci-Atienza
Transport network vehicle services (TNVS) and public utility vehicle (PUV)-driver beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) in Metro Manila may get their cash subsidies via GCash from any Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) nationwide, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday, May 14.
The faster and contactless SAP payout for the families of TNVS drivers is made possible after the DSWD and the Department of Transportation (DoTr)-Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) forged a partnership with G-Xchange, Inc. (GCash) for the distribution of cash subsidies to households of drivers of TNVS and PUV in the National Capital Region (NCR).
GCash is one of the leading mobile wallet platforms in the Philippines.
"The partnership aims to facilitate a quicker and safer approach of cash disbursement since the payout scheme promotes cashless and contactless transactions compliant to the health and safety protocols imposed by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID)," the DSWD said in a statement, three days after President Duterte directed the DSWD to lead the SAP distribution following the snowballing complaints against the purported irregularities in the release of emergency subsidies.
The department said by leveraging financial technology for the disbursement of cash aid, the overcrowding in disbursement centers like banks will be avoided and that there will transparent and faster disbursement of the emergency subsidies.
"TNVS driver-beneficiaries may withdraw their subsidies via GCash from any Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) nationwide or use the funds to pay for physical and online transactions," the DSWD said in a statement.
"They may also use GCash to pay bills to over 70,000 merchants and billers, buy airtime load, and easily transfer money to other GCash account owners or bank accounts from over 40 financial institutions nationwide," it added.
The DSWD vowed to continuously "explore more efficient and expeditious means to ensure the provision of needed assistance to low-income families assessed to be most affected by the implementation of the community quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic."