By Charissa Luci-Atienza Seeking to immediately jumpstart the second phase implementation of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is coordinating with the Commission on Audit (COA) to reduce the financial documents being required from the agency and the local government units (LGUs) for the liquidation of fund releases for the first tranche of emergency subsidies. DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said there are “variables” that have to be considered by the agency before it proceeds with the distribution of second tranche of SAP subsidies, that it shall undertake with the support of the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). "Layunin ng DSWD na mapabilis ang proseso kung kaya nakikipagugnayan tayo sa Commission on Audit upang makalap ng opinyon hinggil dito at mabawasan ang mga hinihinging dokumento sa mga local na pamahalaan at sa DSWD (The DSWD aims to expedite the process, that is why we are coordinating with the Commission on Audit to seek its opinion on this and to reduce the documents being required from the local governments and the DSWD),” he said in a virtual press briefing amid calls on the DSWD to relax its rules on the release of the second tranche of SAP. "Patuloy ang apila natin sa local na pamahalaan na isumite ang liquidation para maisagawa ang masususing validation process nito dahil dito matutukoy ang mga hindi karapat dapat na makatanggap nito (We continue to appeal to the LGUs to submit their liquidation report so we can start the validation process to determine those who are ineligible beneficiaries),” he added. In a statement, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto on Wednesday asked the government to relax its requirements on the release of SAP subsidies for the second tranche. Bautista said the DSWD “respects” the call made by Recto to relax the government’s rules as far as the second wave of cash subsidies is concerned. “Patuloy ang DSWD na gumagawa ng paraan para mapabilis ang mga proseso nito ukol sa implementasyon ng SAP na naaayon sa umiiral na polisiya ukol sa paggamit ng pondo ng bayan kasama sa mga polisiyang ito ang pangangailangan ng pagsubmite ng ating mga lokal pamahaalan ang liquidation bago makalabas muli ng pondo para sa second tranche ng SAP (The DSWD is finding ways on how to expedite the process on the implementation of SAP based on the current policy on the use of public funds and included in the policy requirement is the LGUs’ submision of the liquidation before the funds for the second tranche of SAP will be released.),” he said. He said while waiting for the LGUs to submit their liquidation reports, the DSWD is coordinating with the AFP and PNP, and service providers for the digital payment to fast track the distribution of the second wave of subsidies. He said the LGUs will still be involved in the second phase implementation of SAP and are expected to provide logistical and health assistance, including provision of ambulance and paramedics during payout. He explained that during the second phase implementation of SAP, the funds will no longer be downloaded to the LGUs since the DSWD has been tasked by President Duterte to distribute the cash subsidies. “Hindi na magtransfer ng funds sa LGUs, pero katulong ang LGUs sa monitoring sa pagbibigay ng seguridad sa payout areas, at logistical requirements.”