By Charissa Luci-Atienza More than 77,000 low-income families have received emergency subsidy assistance amounting to more than P424 million under the government's Social Amelioration Program (SAP), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista said on Monday, April 13. This is apart from the 3.7 million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Department of Social Welfare and Development (MANILA BULLETIN) He said the DSWD has downloaded P48 billion in SAP funds to the local government units (LGUs), and P800 million has been given to the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). He said the DSWD also started distributing P323 million subsidies to 40,418 families of transport network vehicle service (TNVS) drivers and public utility vehicles (PUVs) drivers in the National Capital Region (NCR). "Inaasahan natin na tataas pa ang bilang ng mga benepisyaryo na nakatanggap ng emergency subsidy dahil tuloy tuloy ang sinasagawa nating payout nationwide katuwang ang local government units at national government agencies katulad ng AFP (Armed Forces of the Philippines, PNP (Philippine National Police) , at DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government)," Bautista said. (We expect that the number of beneficiaries who will receive the emergency subsidy will increase because our payout continues nationwide in partnership with the local government units and national government agencies like AFP, PNP and DILG.) In a radio interview, Bautista said they are targeting to complete the distribution of the first tranche of the emergency subsidy in the next two weeks. Bautista said the DSWD through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) has extended P57 million worth of medical and burial assistance to 12, 204 beneficiaries who "have COVID-related concerns." He said the DSWD continues to provide relief assistance to LGUs who need augmentation support. He said the DSWD has distributed a total of 368,538 Family Food Packs (FFPs) worth about P142.98 million in 12 regions. Bautista reiterates his call to the public to report those LGUs officials who committed irregularities and abused the government's SAP. He disclosed that the DSWD has put in place a "grievance redress system" so that the public can report the alleged irregularities and anomalies committed by LGUs in the implementation of SAP, especially those who chose their favored beneficiaries. "It is set up at the DSWD. We have an Operations Center there, this is open 24/7." He maintained that once LGU officials are found to be guilty of violating Republic Act No. 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal As One Act", the erring officials will be immediately suspended as relayed to him by DILG Secretary Eduardo Año. "Dapat nga ma sample-lan natin ang mga LGU para hindi gayahin ng mga iba," he said. (We must set an example (in punishing errant officials so) that other LGUs will not imitate them.) "Panawagan ko sa ating kababayan, mag-ingay kayo, sumigaw kayo pag may nakita kayo na very obvious, sabihin natin na talagang sumusuway o nagviolate sa provision ng ating batas tungkol sa social amelioration program," he added. (My call to our compatriots is to make noise, call out once you see obvious, outright violations of the law on the social amelioration program.)