Local government units (LGUs) should have the power to amend the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) list of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries in order to include more people in need of financial assistance during the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), Marikina City Mayor Marcelino “Marcy” Teodoro said on Wednesday (August 4).

“Dapat may flexibility ang mga LGU sa mga listahan na ito na makapag-amend, na makapagdagdag, para ang mga nawala ay mapalitan ng bago (Local government units should have flexibility or the power to amend the list of financial beneficiaries in order to add more people to the list of beneficiaries or replace those who have relocated or died with new ones),” he said during a radio interview.
The mayor noted that some people died while some have relocated that is why it is salient for the list to be updated. Teodoro also noted that more people lost their jobs due to the pandemic that is why LGUs must be able to add more people to the list of SAP beneficiaries.
Teodoro said the list of the DSWD was based on 2019 data which is already two years old and therefore, very outdated.
“Maraming hindi naiisama, dapat ma-amend, magkaroon ng substitution para mga tunay na nangangailangan ay mabigyan ng tulong (Many people were not included, it should be amended and substitution should be done for those people who really need to get financial assistance),” the mayor said.
He noted that by giving such power to LGUs, the process of distribution will also be faster and more transparent as the DSWD only has a limited number of people.
“Kulang talaga sa tao ang DSWD kaya mahalagang LGU makatulong at barangay para sa ganoon maging mabilis, transparent (The personnel of DSWD are not enough to quickly distribute the aid, that’s why the LGU and the barangays must help in order to distribute it faster, and it will be more transparent that way),” he said.
On Tuesday night (August 3), the mayors of Metro Manila had a meeting and agreed that giving financial assistance to the public is the best way in order for them to address their most pressing needs.
Teodoro said this will also help the local economy of people in their respective areas amid the implementation of the ECQ.
ECQ will be implemented in Metro Manila from August 6 to 20 following the surge of cases and the threat posed by the Delta variant of COVID-19.