USAID, DSWD launch 'ReliefAgad' to hasten SAP distribution
Published May 18, 2020 12:00 am
By Roy Mabasa
A new web application called “ReliefAgad” was jointly launched by the United States government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), to hasten the distribution of financial assistance to Filipinos affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
PNA/ MANILA BULLETIN
ReliefAgad will allow the DSWD and local government units to expedite capturing Social Amelioration Program (SAP) details and provide data to expedite the disbursement of cash assistance through electronic payment systems using their smartphones.
The SAP iis the government’s emergency subsidy program for more than 20 million Filipino families belonging to the low-income and most-vulnerable sectors, specifically those that are severely affected by COVID-19.
Its beneficiaries include senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, single parents, repatriated overseas Filipino workers, indigenous peoples, the homeless, farmers, fisherfolk, and those working under the “no work-no pay” arrangements.
US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim reiterated Washington’s commitment to support the Philippines’ response to the COVID-19 health crisis shortly after the app's launching on May 14, 2020.
“The ReliefAgad application will help expedite the delivery of relief assistance to SAP beneficiaries across the Philippines and support the most vulnerable during the pandemic,” he said.
Working with the DSWD and USAID on ReliefAgad are the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Developers Connect Philippines (DEVCON), through the DEVCON Community of Technology Experts (DCTx).
“The introduction of the ReliefAgad system will improve the gathering of beneficiary data by taking advantage of mobile phone technology,” DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag said.
According to the app’s proponent, they developed and designed the ReliefAgad system at no cost to the DSWD with the goal of quickly deploying it in emergency situations.
“ReliefAgad will cater to the needs of both government agencies and the beneficiaries. By combining crowd sourcing and manual encoding of LGUs, and leveraging a tech savvy population, the government will be able to give relief immediately,” said Winston Damarillo, CEO of Talino Labs for DEVCON.
USAID is supporting the roll out of ReliefAgad by providing quality assurance and technical support, as well as developing a digital user guide and instructional materials to ensure ReliefAgad’s ease of use.
In addition, the US agency is assisting the DSWD and select LGUs to adopt e-payment systems for the disbursement of relief to SAP beneficiaries. Since 2015, USAID, through its E-PESO project, has been assisting the Philippine government in shifting the national economy from cash to electronic payments to encourage broader- based economic growth and financial inclusion.
SAP beneficiaries can now register their social amelioration cards on the ReliefAgad system through its website, www.reliefagad.ph. ReliefAgad is also supported by private sector partners PLDT and Amazon.
PNA/ MANILA BULLETIN
ReliefAgad will allow the DSWD and local government units to expedite capturing Social Amelioration Program (SAP) details and provide data to expedite the disbursement of cash assistance through electronic payment systems using their smartphones.
The SAP iis the government’s emergency subsidy program for more than 20 million Filipino families belonging to the low-income and most-vulnerable sectors, specifically those that are severely affected by COVID-19.
Its beneficiaries include senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, single parents, repatriated overseas Filipino workers, indigenous peoples, the homeless, farmers, fisherfolk, and those working under the “no work-no pay” arrangements.
US Ambassador to Manila Sung Kim reiterated Washington’s commitment to support the Philippines’ response to the COVID-19 health crisis shortly after the app's launching on May 14, 2020.
“The ReliefAgad application will help expedite the delivery of relief assistance to SAP beneficiaries across the Philippines and support the most vulnerable during the pandemic,” he said.
Working with the DSWD and USAID on ReliefAgad are the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Developers Connect Philippines (DEVCON), through the DEVCON Community of Technology Experts (DCTx).
“The introduction of the ReliefAgad system will improve the gathering of beneficiary data by taking advantage of mobile phone technology,” DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag said.
According to the app’s proponent, they developed and designed the ReliefAgad system at no cost to the DSWD with the goal of quickly deploying it in emergency situations.
“ReliefAgad will cater to the needs of both government agencies and the beneficiaries. By combining crowd sourcing and manual encoding of LGUs, and leveraging a tech savvy population, the government will be able to give relief immediately,” said Winston Damarillo, CEO of Talino Labs for DEVCON.
USAID is supporting the roll out of ReliefAgad by providing quality assurance and technical support, as well as developing a digital user guide and instructional materials to ensure ReliefAgad’s ease of use.
In addition, the US agency is assisting the DSWD and select LGUs to adopt e-payment systems for the disbursement of relief to SAP beneficiaries. Since 2015, USAID, through its E-PESO project, has been assisting the Philippine government in shifting the national economy from cash to electronic payments to encourage broader- based economic growth and financial inclusion.
SAP beneficiaries can now register their social amelioration cards on the ReliefAgad system through its website, www.reliefagad.ph. ReliefAgad is also supported by private sector partners PLDT and Amazon.