THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has disbursed PHP1.9 billion out of the PHP4.3-billion funding for the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) through the local government units (LGUs) of Region 1 (Ilocos).
In a forum on Wednesday, DSWD-1 Director Marcelo Nicomedes Castillo said through the LGUs, they have distributed the amount to some 348,223 qualified residents in the region as of Wednesday noon.
Pangasinan has 177,038 SAP recipients; Ilocos Sur (64,739); La Union (56,507); and Ilocos Norte (49,939). Each beneficiary received PHP5,500.
“Ilocos Norte has the least number of beneficiaries since it has the lowest poverty incidence in the region,” Castillo said, adding that some 22 LGUs in the region have completed the distribution of the cash aid.
Five of these LGUs are in Ilocos Norte, 12 in Ilocos Sur, one in La Union, and four in Pangasinan.
“We are hoping the cash aid will be given to the recipients of the program before this month ends,” he said, noting that next month’s SAP might be delayed if the LGUs fail to complete the distribution of this month’s amelioration, as the cash aid has to undergo processing and liquidation.
Castillo said some LGUs are tediously validating the list to ensure that those who would receive the aid are indeed eligible.
“The lists are also crossmatched with the list of the Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, (which) are also part of the SAP,” he said.
The SAP is the government’s assistance to low-income families, with members belonging to the vulnerable sector.
These families are assessed to be the most affected by the Luzon-wide enhanced community quarantine due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic, given their life situation or circumstances while adhering to health and safety protocols.
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