By Charissa Luci-Atienza
Amid the conflicting positions of Malacañang and the senators on the expiration of the Bayanihan Law, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Monday, June 8 that it remains committed to distribute the second tranche of cash subsidies to Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries to ensure the continued protection of the welfare of the country’s poor and marginalized sectors.
Department of Social Welfare and Development
(MANILA BULLETIN)
DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the agency is sticking to Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which provides that the emergency cash subsidies, ranging from P5,000 to 8,000, shall be given to eligible family-beneficiaries for two months.
"Ang interes at kapakanan ng mga mahihirap, vulnerable, at marginalized sektor sa bansa ay nananatiling driving force ng departamento upang magpatuloy sa pagpapatupad ng SAP at iba pang mga programa na naglalayong ma-address ang immediate na pangangailangan nila. Ang DSWD, bilang implementing agency, ay sumusunod sa itinatakda ng RA 11469 (The interest and welfare of the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sector of the country remain the driving force of the department to continue the implementation of SAP and other programs that seek to address their immediate needs. The DSWD, as implementing agency, will adhere to the provisions of RA 11469),” she said when asked if the DSWD will have to wait for the enactment of the Bayanihan 2 before it proceeds with the second phase implementation of SAP.
She said the DSWD will never deviate from the provisions of RA 11469.
"Tititayakin ng DSWD ang pagtalima dito, partikular sa patuloy na pagpapatupad ng SAP dahil nauunawaan at batid ng DSWD ang pangangailangan ng ating mga kababayang apektado ng krisis (The DSWD assures that it will adhere to (the law), particularly in the continued distribution of SAP because the DSWD recognizes the needs of our countrymen affected by the crisis),” she assured.
Dumlao said the process of validation and deduplication must be completed first before they roll out the second phase implementation of SAP.
“Nakahanda ang departmento na ipahatid ang second tranche, bagamat kinakailangang tapusin ang validation as to tge eligibility at ang deduplication process (The department is ready to distribute the second tranche, however, the validation as to the eligibility and the deduplication process must be completed),” she said.
The DSWD earlier said the second tranche of SAP implementation targets 8.5 million low-income families in enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) areas and some 3.5 million “wait-listed" families from the five million additional families approved by President Rodrigo Duterte for inclusion in the program.
The areas that are set to receive the second tranche were identified based on Executive Order No. 112, Series of 2020 dated May 1, and the memorandum signed by Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on May 2.
Covered by the second phase of SAP are Region III, except Aurora; National Capital Region (NCR); CALABARZON; Benguet; Pangasinan; Iloilo; Cebu; Bacolod City; Davao City, Albay, and Zamboanga City.
"The department continues to study and think of other innovative means to improve its protocols and guidelines for the second tranche of SAP implementation," the DSWD said.
The agency said it will also seek the assistance of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), particularly female soldiers, in the distribution of the cash subsidy in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) and conflict-affected areas.
It vowed to use the "most expeditious means" to provide cash aid to eligible family-beneficiaries. These include payment through electronic or digital means, cash cards, transfer of funds to other national government agencies, door-to-door cash payout, or direct cash.
The DSWD also urged SAP beneficiaries to register to the ReliefAgad application by visiting www.reliefagad.com to avail of a safer and more convenient cashless disbursement.