The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) apprised the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability that it has served 13.5 million beneficiaries or 95 percent of the 14.3 M recipients targeted to receive the second wave of emergency cash subsidy under the national government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
(MANILA BULLETIN)
In a hearing, DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag told the House panel, chaired by Bulacan 1st District Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado that P81.1 billion has been distributed to around 13, 544, 710 SAP 2 beneficiaries.
"I am pleased to report that for the second tranche of Social Amelioration Program, a total amount of P81.1 billion had been disbursed for the benefit of 13.5 million families or beneficiaries and this is translated to 95 percent accomplishment of the program’s target. I would like to say that we are optimistic that we will be able to serve all our eligible beneficiaries in due time as the necessary documentary requirements are now being processed for the subsequent transfer of funds to our beneficiaries through our FSPs, through direct payouts,” he said.
Among those who received their SAP 2 aid are 1.39 million beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); 6.99 million low-income, and non-4Ps recipients; and 5.15 million waitlisted beneficiaries, Pamonag noted.
In a separate presentation, DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Atty. Aimee Torrefranca-Neri said around 150, 695 Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and public utility vehicles (PUVs) drivers got their cash aid.
Pamonag assured the lawmakers that the DSWD has been coordinating closely with the local government units, its partner-Financial Service Providers (FSPs), the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police to immediately finish the distribution of SAP cash subsidy.
"We would like to assure this committee, our kababayans (countrymen), the DSWD remains steadfast and committed in delivering the emergency subsidy in the soonest possible time,” he said.
When quizzed by Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep. Luis Raymund “LRay" Villafuerte Jr. on when the DSWD will complete the SAP 2 distribution, Pamonag explained that the DSWD would have wanted to finish the distribution of SAP at the soonest time, "but there are some factors beyond our control.”
These include the failure of the LGUs to complete the uploading of around 97, 395 Social Amelioration Cards of the beneficiaries, and the “revalidation" of more than 154, 396 beneficiaries.
The DSWD was supposed to complete the digital and manual payouts of SAP 2 assistance last August 15.