Not 17 million, but over 14.1 million beneficiaries have been identified to benefit from the second tranche of cash subsidies under the national government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Tuesday (August 4).
DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje said the number of SAP 2 beneficiaries has been trimmed down to 14.1 million.
“Nais po namin ipabatid na (We would like to inform that) makaraang repasuhin ang datos (after assessing the data) sa bilang ng target beneficiaries (on the number of target beneficiaries) para sa second tranche (for the second tranche), ay mahigit 14.1 million pamilya (there are over 14.1 million families) ang mabibigyan ng ayuda sa ikalawang yugto ng (who who will receive the second tranche of the ) SAP payments. Mula sa 17 million na target (From the 17 million target), ibabawas ang bilang ng duplicates, ang mga hindi kwalipikado at ang mga boluntaryong nagbalik o nagsauli ng kanilang ayuda na natanggap (the number of duplicates, those who are ineligible and those who voluntarily returned their cash aid will be deducted),” he said during the uSAP TAYO! virtual presser.
He also noted that the local government units (LGUs) only submitted a list of 3.2 million “waitlisted” beneficiaries out of the 5 million targeted beneficiaries.
The DSWD said as of July 26, the agency recorded 675, 933 duplicate recipients, and 239, 859 ineligible beneficiaries, and found that 58, 725 families voluntarily returned their cash aid.
Paje said the DSWD has distributed over P62.5 billion worth of SAP 2 aid to 9.6 million beneficiaries nationwide.
The latest list of SAP 2 recipients, according to him, include over 1.3 million beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); over 5 million low-income, non-4Ps households; 2.4 million “waitlisted", low-income and non-4Ps beneficiaries; and 700,000 “waitlisted” recipients from the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) areas.
“Sa ngayon, umaabot na ng 69 percent o malapit na 70 percent ng kabuuang target na ang naaccomplish. Bagamat hindi natin naabot 'yung 80 percent na tinuturing ay patuloy pang nagsisikap at tuloy tuloy pa rin ang DSWD sa kanilang pagta-trabaho upang matapos ang lahat ng payout sa kalagitnaan ng buwang kasalukuyan,” Paje said.
(As of now, we have covered 69 percent or almost 70 percent of the total target. Though, we haven't reached the 80 percent target, we continue to strive and the DSWD will continuously work to complete all the payouts in the middle of this month.)
He cited a number of reasons that delayed the distribution of the SAP 2 cash aid . These include different data supplied by the beneficiaries; the double entry of the names of the beneficiaries; failure of the beneficiaries to supply their necessary information, including their phone numbers; some beneficiaries are living in geographically-isolated and disadvantaged areas and conflict-striken areas; failure of the local government units (LGUs) to provide complete their liquidation requirements, infected DSWD personnel; and limited mobility of SAP frontliners in COVID-stricken areas.
Paje said they are appealing "for more public understanding" over the delayed distribution of the emergency cash subsidy.
He even noted that President Duterte’s decision to place the National Capital Region (NCR), and the provinces of Bulacan, Laguna, Cavite, and Rizal back to a modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) for 15 days effective Tuesday, August 4, 2020 amid the increasing cases of COVID-19 will “likely affect” the SAP 2 payouts, considering the strict observance of heath and safety protocols.
He assured the public that the DSWD is coordinating with the LGUs and the financial service providers (FSPs) to ensure the continued distribution of the cash aid.
He said the DSWD is also ready to provide augmentation support to LGUs in MECQ areas through a provision of food and non-food items.
During the same press briefing, DSWD Field Office NCR Director Vic Tomas said the SAP 2 aid distribution will continue in Metro Manila amid the President’s MECQ declaration.
He said they already coordinated with the LGUs and both parties have agreed that the SAP beneficiaries will be given quarantine pass and transportation assistance to enable them to get their subsidy, which is provided for under Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act.
He reported that the NCR recorded 84-percent SAP distribution rate.
He said in response to the needs of MECQ areas, there are eight satellite repackaging centers in NCR.
Tomas also assured the public that mobile teams will be deployed for the house-to-house distribution of the social pension to indigent senior citizens, and the financial aid granted to its clients through the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
He said cash for work program is also being implemented in Metro Manila, particularly in cities of Marikina, and Pasay.
During the press briefing, DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao disclosed that they have created a grievance portal, uSAP TAYO website to respond to the concerns, complaints, and questions regarding the implementation of SAP, including the issues on eligibility of beneficiaries, violation committed during the distribution of the subsidy, and the delayed payout.