By Charissa Luci-Atienza The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has asked the public to "actively monitor" the government's implementation of the social amelioration program (SAP) and report those who "abused" the subsidy initiative, whether they are local government officials or target beneficiaries. Department of Social Welfare and Development (MANILA BULLETIN) DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista also appealed to the target beneficiaries for understanding, as the delivery of cash grants was delayed in the some areas, including those geographically-isolated municipalities and those with peace and order concerns. "Masasabi ko lang na iyong pagdi-distribute o pagtatalaga ng mga target beneficiary ay, sabi ko nga, hindi natin makukuha sa -- mapeperpekto sa isang linggo o dalawang linggo," he said in the "Cabinet Report sa Teleradyo- COVID-19 Special" hosted by Presidential Communications Operations Office Martin Andanar on Friday night. (What can I say is that the distribution or the determination of target beneficiaries, as I said, cannot be done, cannot be perfected in one or two weeks.) "At nais ko sanang i-encourage ang lahat na maging aktibo tayo sa pagbabantay, sa pagmo-monitor sa pagbibigay ng emergency cash subsidy, dahil alam naman natin na ang pondong ito ay talagang inilaan para sa mga nararapat na benepisyaryo," he said. (I would like to encourage everyone to be active in monitoring the delivery of emergency cash subsidies, because as we know this fund is intended for its rightful beneficiaries.) He said the violators of the emergency subsidy program will be penalized as provided for by Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, which was signed by President Duterte last month. "Dapat lang iyong mga nagsasamantala, whether opisyales iyan ng local government unit o mismong target beneficiary, ay maiparating kaagad sa kinauukulan katulad sa amin sa DSWD, o kaya sa DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government)," Bautista said. (Those who took advantage, whether they are officials of local government unit or the target beneficiaries themselves, should be reported to the authorities, to us in the DSWD or the DILG.) He said DILG Secretary Eduardo Año informed him that once local government unit (LGU) officials are found to be guilty of violating the law, the erring officials will be immediately suspended. Bautista said the DSWD is closely coordinating with LGUs to study and map out ways on how to address the "shortcomings and gaps" in the distribution of the cash aid to 18 million low-income households. He admitted they cannot meet their initial target of distributing the emergency subsidy to all 18 million low-income families before Holy Week ends. He said the regional directors in the DSWD field offices cited many factors that caused the delay in the delivery of the subsidies. "May mga munisipyo o city LGU na sinabi nila na tapusin muna ang Holy Week bago ipamahagi iyong ayuda," Bautista noted. (There are municipalities or city LGUs that said, let Holy Week end before distributing the aid.) "Mayroon namang mga ibang LGU na sasabihin nila, huwag muna nating unahin iyong mga lugar na may problema tayo sa peace and order," he added, citing as an example the situation in Pandi, Bulacan. (There are LGUs that said, let us not prioritize the places with peace and order problems.) Bautista, a former Philippine Army commander, said the DSWD is also having difficulty reaching out in indigenous peoples' areas, and that the delivery of emergency subsidies should be planned by concerned LGUs, in coordination with the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). He said during the "recovery stage" or after the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has passed, the DSWD will provide livelihood assistance grants (LAG) to beneficiary-families of its sustainable livelihood program (SLP), provided that at least one family member works in the informal sector and is displaced following the government's imposition of the enhanced community quarantine. The program seeks "to help the beneficiary to recover from economic losses due to COVID-19 crisis," he said. The DSWD initially distributed SAP payouts to poor and low-income families in National Capital Region (NCR), Region I (Ilocos), Region II (Cagayan Valley), Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Region III (Central Luzon), Region III (Central Luzon), Region IV-A or CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas,Rizal and Quezon), and Region IV-B or MIMAROPA (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), and Region V (Bicol).