GENERAL SANTOS CITY — The city government is planning to expand this year the coverage of its flagship-enhanced social services and assistance program for poor residents.
City Mayor Ronnel Rivera said Tuesday they have enlisted more establishments and institutions that will serve as conduits of the local government’s Auxiliaries and Medical Program for Individuals and Needy Generals or Amping.
Rivera said the conduits comprise of private hospitals, funeral parlors, pharmacies, and civic organizations operating or based in the city. The local government, he said, has signed memorandums of agreement with these entities to formalize the partnership.
“They agreed and joined our cause to alleviate the dire circumstances of the needy and the deprived in the city,” he added.
Amping — a Cebuano term for care, safeguard or precaution — was launched by the city government in October last year with initial funding of PHP32 million. It aims “to ensure that holistic assistance can be delivered to anyone who seeks help from the local government.”
Under the program, residents may avail of up to PHP10,000 in assistance from the city government for hospitalization, medicines, blood transfusion and burial. The maximum amount given per individual is P10,000, depending on the evaluation of the case.
Joel Duterte, Amping program manager, said they grant financial assistance in the form of guarantee letters from the local government.
Duterte said residents who are in need of assistance are required to present voter’s identification and prescriptions from hospitals and official receipts for the burial services.
The voter’s identification will ensure that the prospective beneficiaries are legitimate residents of the city as provided for in its implementing ordinance.
Last year, the city government assisted some 1,977 residents under the program.
