By Diann Ivy C. Calucin
More than 53,000 persons with disability (PWDs) and solo parents received cash aid from the city government of Manila on Tuesday, July 9.
Under the social amelioration program (SAP) being implemented by Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, each solo parent, PWD, and senior citizen receive a monthly financial assistance of P500 from the local government.
According to the Manila Department of Social Welfare (DSW) Head Re Fugoso, the P3,000 worth of payout covered six months from January to June.
Fugoso said the number of PWD beneficiaries has increased due to City Ordinance 8991 or the inclusion of children with disabilities among the beneficiaries of P500 monthly cash payout.
Read: https://mb.com.ph/2023/11/11/manila-to-give-p500-monthly-allowance-to-minor-pw-ds
The Manila DSW said the registered solo parents have reached 20,000 while there are more or less 40,000 PWDs.
"Malaking tulong po lalo na sa aming maintenance pag nagkakasakit (It helps a lot especially with our medication when we get sick)," said Analissa Borras, a PWD guardian in District 1.
The Manila DSW said the beneficiaries also created Facebook group chats in every district where announcement and advisories about the schedule of the payouts are released.
Solo parent beneficiaries also received school supplies for their children.
"Mga libreng gamit ng bata, mga bag, notebook, hindi ko na kailangan bumili. Bukod pa sa pinansyal na binibigay niya [Mayor Honey] tulad ng sa solo parents, 'yung mga assistance lahat po napupunan po namin tulad ng mga educational assistance. Lahat po naitutulong niya po sa amin (I no longer have to buy school supplies for my children like notebooks and bags. Besides the financial assistance she provides, such as for solo parents, we also receive various forms of aid. We also get educational assistance. She [Mayor Honey] helps us with everything)," said Cherry Alcantara, a solo parent in District 6.
"Kaya sa pagtanggap po nila ng pera na ito, gamitin po nila ng naaayon sa pangangailangan nila dahil mahal na mahal sila ng ina ng lungsod ng Maynila, si Mayor Honey (So in accepting this money, they should use it according to their needs because they are dearly loved by our beloved mother of the City of Manila, Mayor Honey)," Ma. Julie Bajelot, head of Manila DSW District 6, said.