The delay in the distribution of the second tranche of government’s social amelioration program for people affected by the coronavirus pandemic sparked a protest from a women’s group in Quezon City.

Armed with placards while observing physical distancing, members of Gabriela gathered in front of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) main office to protest its failure to give the cash aid on time.

“Hanggang kailan hihintayin ng mamamayan ang 2nd tranche ng SAP? Ang sabi ng pambansang pamahalaan ay mabilis at kagyat na maibibigay, pero anong petsa na?” Gabriela said in a Facebook post, sharing photos of its protest action on Tuesday. (How long will the citizens wait for the 2nd tranche of SAP? The national government said it will be immediately given, but what date is it now?)

“Gutom na ang mamamayan. Marami ang nawalan ng trabaho. Pero walang tuluy-tuloy na ayuda at subsidyo ang gobyerno,” it added. (People are hungry. Many have lost jobs. But the government has no continuous aid and subsidy.)

The women’s group held a protest despite the DSWD’s claim that SAP 2 beneficiaries have already received P81.3 billion worth of emergency cash subsidy as of August 30. This amount covered 95 percent or about 13.6 million beneficiaries.

The recipients include over 1.3 million beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps); 3.2 million waitlisted beneficiaries nationwide; 150,695 Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and public public utility vehicle drivers; and 33,336 drivers from enhanced community quarantine areas.

The DSWD has tapped financial service providers like GCash and PayMaya for faster and digitized distribution of cash aid following massive delays in the first tranche.

Gabriela also condemned the collection of P160 to P250 service charge from beneficiaries in claiming their cash aid.