SAP distribution extended until May 7

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has extended until May 7 the deadline in the distribution of the first batch of financial assistance to poor families under the government’s Social Amelioration Program.

Secretary Eduardo Ano yesterday announced the extension in the National Capital Region (NCR) and six other areas in the country, including Cebu.

He said they decided to extend the deadline that supposed to end yesterday, April 30, because of the several problems encountered by the local government officials, particularly those whose areas has a high density population.

Aside from Cebu and the NCR, the other areas where the distribution of SAP has been extended include the provinces of Cavite, Rizal, Laguna, Bulacan and Davao.

 The League of Municipalities of the Philippines-Cebu Chapter earlier appealed to the DILG and the Department of Social Welfare and Development to extend the deadline until May 15.

"We would like to bring to your attention that 40 out of the 44 municipalities in Cebu have encountered logistical and procedural difficulties, which in turn, have made it difficult to complete the distribution of the SAP beneficiaries within the required timeline of April 30," reads LMP-Cebu Chapter President Christina Frasco’s letter.

Frasco said that to date, the DSWD personnel assigned to their  respective LGUs have not yet finished the validation of all the SAC forms submitted.

The letter added that proper identification of beneficiaries and/or replacement of individuals initially given SAC forms but found to be ineligible during validation, has become a challenge especially with various changes in guidelines and advisories as well as the need to ensure only eligible beneficiaries avail of this program.

 As of 12 noon yesterday, only 115,426 out of 598, 218 low income families identified as SAP beneficiaries have received the P6,000 cash assistance.

The data released by DSWD-7 also shows that the allocation for Cebu was already downloaded to the 53 LGUs.

Under the Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One” Act, 18 million low-income households nationwide, including 4Ps household beneficiaries, are expected to receive emergency cash assistance to cushion the impact of the public health emergency due to the COVID-19.

"The social amelioration measures will help mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 health crisis and the enhanced community quarantine to the target beneficiaries, particularly the senior citizens, persons with disability, pregnant and lactating mothers, solo parents, overseas Filipinos in distress, indigent Indigenous Peoples, homeless citizens, and the informal economy workers," DSWD said.   FPL (FREEMAN)