The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started to distribute cash under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to affected individuals and target beneficiaries in Manila.
The recipients of the Php 8,000 aid were based on the lists given by the Department of Finance (DOF) in accordance with the 2015 census. The cash assistance were handed over through house-to-house delivery to observe physical distancing.
“Ang binibigyan po ng tulong dito, una ‘yung hindi na kasama sa 4Ps, definitely indigent family, kasama na yung matanda, yung (The recipients are not members of 4Ps, definitely indigent family, the elderly), single mothers, lactating mothers, single parents. There is a criteria to follow. Ito po ay very clear, nakalahad po sa guidelines (It’s very clear, it’s stated in the guidelines). We just need to be resilient and redundant in the coordination,” DSWD-NCR Regional Director Vicente Tomas said.
Most of the recipients are jeepney and tricycle drivers who are among the most affected sectors of the enhanced community quarantine. They said that the assistance is a huge help for them.
However, some individuals have expressed dismay for not receiving the said aid due to their non-inclusion in the lists.
The DSWD assured all qualified individuals will receive help from the government, and that those who were not included in the list will be validated “at the soonest possible time” for them to be given the aid in the next tranche.
The distribution will continue over the next few days to cover other recipients.
