Clarify cash aid program rules

CEBU, Philippines —  Mayors of the Province of Cebu are calling on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to be more transparent in the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program.

This family assistance program is meant to help households, survive the nationwide lockdowns that caused job losses as the country survives the threat of COVID-19.

It covers senior citizens, single parents, pregnant women, 4Ps members, displaced workers and persons with disabilities. However, households that have two or more beneficiaries will not receive more than the allotted P6,000.

Yesterday, mayors of the province's component cities and the League of Municipalities of the Philippines - Cebu Chapter met with DSWD and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to clarify the guidelines in implementing the program.

In the meeting, Talisay Mayor Samsam Gullas pointed out that DSWD-7 sent the mayors a letter directing them to identify SAP beneficiaries in their areas just a day prior to the deadline on April 2.

Gullas said the order was given without informing the mayors of the maximum number of beneficiaries, the allocated fund per local government unit, and even the proper guidelines.

"Daghan kaayog questions that need to be answered by DSWD. If you can explain to the people... mahug na man kami inyong gipa-explain sa katwahan unsay guidelines nga wa pay kwarta naabot," Gullas said.

"The money is not with the mayors and it has not been released... There should be transparency and accountability on the part of the agency that is tasked to do it," Liloan Mayor Christina Frasco, the LMP Cebu President, added.

The mayors in the meeting said they want the people to know that the money is not with them, considering that they have been receiving complaints on the delayed distribution of the financial assistance.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, for her part, pointed out that DSWD has a record of all the beneficiaries of 4Ps, a database of senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and even persons in crisis situations.

DSWD said that while the funds are yet to be downloaded to the LGUs, DSWD-7 has already received P6 billion for the entire region.

As for the cap, mayors will be made to take 73 to 77 percent of their total population and submit it to the DSWD. This is the number that will be covered by the amelioration program.

Once the mayors sign the final Memorandum of Agreement with DSWD, the funds for their individual LGUs will be downloaded within 24-48 hours.

More clarifications will also be posted by DSWD-7 upon receipt of the go signal from its central office.  JMO (FREEMAN)