By Charissa Luci-Atienza The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is counting on local government units (LGUs) to fully disburse their Social Amelioration Program (SAP) funds after they have been given another three days to distribute the first tranche of emergency subsidies to the beneficiaries. Department of Social Welfare and Development (MANILA BULLETIN) DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje said they are not expecting the LGUs to refund unutilized SAP funds, after DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) both agreed on May 6, Wednesday night, to allow the local officials to distribute the cash aid until May 10. “Dahil sa extension na binigay ng DILG, tiwala kami sa DSWD na walang pondong maibabalik at lahat ay maipapahatid sa mga beneficiaries (With the extension given by the DILG, we, in the DSWD, trust that no funds will be returned and that all will be given to the beneficiaries),” he said in a virtual press briefing. “Kung meron mag-waive, maaring gumawa ang mga LGUs ng panibagong master list at payroll at isama sa ‘yung mga hindi napabilang sa orihinal na listahan upang sila naman ay agarang mabigyan ng ayuda (If there are those who waive their cash assistance, the LGUs may come up with a new master list and payroll and include those who were not in the original list so that they will be given immediate assistance),” he added. Paje noted that 637 LGUs out of 1,632 LGUs have completed their SAP payouts, while 58 LGUs already submitted their liquidation reports. Año earlier announced that LGUs that have yet to complete the SAP distribution will be given until Sunday, May 10, to do so. Paje said the DSWD is keenly monitoring LGUs to ensure that the P100 billion allocated for the first wave of cash subsidies will be given to all 18 million deserving and eligible families. “Umaasa kami na ang lahat sana ng pondo ng SAP ay maipamahagi at maibigay sa mga kwalipikadong benepisyaryo (We hope that all SAP funds will be distributed and given to qualified beneficiaries)," he said. “Nararapat na ipahatid ang tulong sa mga pamilya na lubos na naapektuhan ng krisis. At dahil dito patuloy ang ginagawa ng DSWD na monitoring at coordination sa mga LGus upang matiyak na mapahatid ang SAP sa target beneficiaries (It is necessary that assistance be given to the families most affected by the crisis. Because of this, the DSWD is continuously monitoring and coordinating with the LGUs to ensure the delivery of SAP to the target beneficiaries),” he added. Paje cited LGUs in CARAGA and Region V (Bicol) for immediately completing their payouts. He reiterates that SAP funding for the second tranche will be released after LGUs submit their liquidation reports. He also said the DSWD is still awaiting Malacañang to issue an executive order that will serve as basis and will provide guidelines for the second phase implementation of SAP. During the briefing, Page said more than P75.2 billion worth of subsidies have been distributed to over 13.6 million SAP beneficiaries, 9.8 million of whom are low-income and non-Pantawid Pamilya families. The 9.8 million low-income and non-Pantawid Pamilya families received P58 billion in cash aid, he said. Also included in the ist of current SAP beneficiaries, Paje said, are 3.72 million 4Ps recipients who received P16.35 billion worth of emergency subsidies through their cash cards; 126,330 4Ps beneficiaries who are non-cash card holders, and were given P492.3 million in subsidies; and 40,418 families of Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) and Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers who got P323.3 million subsidy allocation. Paje said the DSWD already downloaded P81.7 billion SAP funds to 1,518 local government units (LGUs) or 99.67 percent of the total SAP budget given to them. He said the DSWD through its Regular Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) has provided P2.6 billion in financial assistance to more than 39,307 clients, including those with COVID-19 related concerns nationwide. Of the AICS clients, 6,478 are stranded individuals. He said the DSWD also provided burial assistance worth P20.5 million to 2,803 clients. Paje added that 3,793 clients were also assisted by the Department through guarantee letters. The amount extended to them is P19.4 million. He disclosed that 452,303 indigent senior citizens also received their six months’ worth of social pension amounting to P1.3 billion. The DSWD, he said, continues to provide augmentation support to LGUs. A total of 675,891 Family Food Packs (FFPs) worth P271 million have been delivered nationwide, Paje explained.