SOCIAL Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista on Monday agreed to make public the names of cash aid beneficiaries of the Special Amelioration Program (SAP) not just for transparency but also to identify recipients who should be excluded from the subsidy program next month.
Bautista made the announcement during the Laging Handa network briefing after Interior Eduardo Año directed local government units to display in their barangays and other open areas places the names of the persons who have received the P5,000 to P8,000 SAP aid.
“We support the action of the DILG, especially the directive of Secretary Año who ordered LGUs for the barangays to release a list of the beneficiaries, the amounts that they have received, and to post these in conspicuous places… this is good, there will be transparency and at the same time identify the beneficiaries at who received the SAP,” he said.
The DILG chief over the weekend ordered all barangay chairmen to make public the list of the SAP beneficiaries for transparency reasons.
The directive was made at the heels of the call of Senate President Vicente Sotto III for the DSWD to publish in its website the names of the beneficiaries who have received their cash assistance.
Bautista thanked local government officials for their cooperation and assistance in helping the DSWD in the identification of beneficiaries and in the distribution of cash aid as well as the relief and food packs.
As of April19, DSWD has released more than P22 billion under the SAP — or about P6 billion worth of cash aid to more than 1 million non-Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), P16.3 billion to the more than 4 million 4Ps beneficiaries, and P323 million for public utility vehicle drivers.
Aside from cash, the DSWD had also distributed 445,580 food packs worth P173 million, P86 million for COVID-related emergency assistance program like medical and burial which benefited 18,649 people, and P403 million for the P3,000 bi-annually pension of indigent senior citizens.
Bautista said that 90 percent of the P81 billion, or about P74.5 billion, of the funds released to 1,359 local government units, had already been distributed.
DSWD Undersecretary Camilo Gumaldin, in a separate briefing, said the DSWD seeks to complete the distribution of the April cash aid on or before the end of the month. A different SAP allocation is set in May.
DSWD PERSONNEL
Bautista said his department has coordinated with the DILG and concerned local government units on the protection and safety of DSWD personnel in the field.
He said local government executives had committed to protect the DSWD personnel involved in the distribution of the SAP aid and assured their safety and protection following the harassment and intimation that some of them have experienced during the distribution of the application forms and cash.
The DSWD did not provide specific cases but Gumaldin appealed to their personnel not to be discouraged from continuing with their jobs despite the harassment and intimidation.
“It is disturbing and sad that you fell victim to threats and ridicule. We understand your fears and feelings which is why we have already coordinated with concerned agencies to ensure your safety. We hope that the threats would not dissuade you from continuing you service to the people. We are one with you in this fight. Let us show that good will prevail over evil,” he said.
OFW CASH AID
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said 30,000 overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) have submitted applications for the government’s one-time financial assistance for those affected by COVID-19.
Bello said they have already received some 30,000 applications for the “DOLE-AKAP for OFWs” program.
“We are still in the process of (assessing) their application and, after that, remittances of cash assistance,” said Bello in a televised press briefing.
The number of applicants is already 20 percent of the target recipient of 150,000 OFWs, who are still in host countries affected by lockdowns, as well as those in the Philippines, either repatriated or are unable to return to their destinations.
To note, the DOLE-AKAP for OFWs is a one-time financial assistance of $200 or P10,000 to affected or displaced OFWs.
“If they are still in another country, they will receive their $200. But if they are already home, they will receive the peso equivalent of P10,000,” said Bello.
But aside from the P1.5-billion amelioration program of DOLE, Bello said they will continue to provide other forms of assistance to OFWs through the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA).
In a radio interview, OWWA Administrator Hans Leo Cacdac disclosed that they have already provided different forms of assistance to over 12,000 OFWs.
Cacdac said some 5,000 have been provided temporary shelter in hotels in Metro Manila, 4,000 with food packs, and 3,500 with transportation assistance.
“You can be assured that we will continue to provide assistance to OFWs. Just bring your request to us and provide us their names and contact numbers,” said Cacdac.
SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS
Muntinlupa City Mayor Jaime Fresnedi has approved City Ordinance 2020-087 which authorizes the early release of the allowance of city scholars.
Fresnedi said early release of the subsidy is to financially assist students and their families financially burdened by the Luzon lockdown.
“City government recognizes that most of the students under the local scholarship program belong to daily wage earner-parents and the allowance will help their families cope and get through the COVID-19 crisis’, Fresnedi said.
The ordinance allows the city government to release the scholarship allowance of the scholars covering the period of June to August.
Muntinlupa City government has 71,000 students registered under its various scholarship programs.
Elementary and alternative learning system students in Muntinlupa receive an allowance of P4,000 per year. For junior high school students, the local government provides P5,000, while for senior high school students, P6,000 per year.
College students, including beneficiaries of the Continuing Assistance for Reintegrating Students Program, receive a maximum incentive of up to P10,000 per semester depending on their academic performance. — With Gerard Naval and Noel Talacay
