AFP ordered to help in SAP distribution

MANILA, Philippines — Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has directed the military to help in the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) for low-income families affected by the crisis spawned by the coronavirus in Metro Manila and other areas.

Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Felimon Santos Jr. was tasked to provide necessary military assistance to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and other agencies undertaking the distribution of aid to communities.

Lorenzana issued the instructions following the directive of President Duterte for the AFP to assist the DSWD in distributing cash assistance to poor households under the SAP.

He told the AFP that all area commanders must “field sufficient force to avoid ambuscades or attacks whether on the move or at the distribution venue.”

“We feel the expressed desire of the President to provide immediate intervention measures to address the need to bring amelioration assistance to the people forthwith. The AFP will comply,” AFP spokesman Brig. Gen. Edgard Arevalo said.

“Hearing this directive from the commander in chief, our field commanders will institute necessary adjustment in our troops deployment,” he added.

Pursuant to the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law, the government allotted P200 billion in emergency subsidy for about 18 million low-income households affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will issue show cause orders against around 30 mayors who allegedly failed to meet the deadline for the distribution of emergency cash subsidy under the SAP.

DILG spokesman Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said yesterday the local chief executives will be made to explain why they were not able to complete distribution of the cash assistance to qualified beneficiaries before the deadline lapsed last Sunday.

Malaya did not disclose other details about local chief executives when sought for comment during a Laging Handa press briefing, but said they will make an announcement in the coming days.

The DILG said about 17.2 million or 96 percent of the 18 million low-income families who qualified for the SAP have received their cash assistance.

The government gave the cash assistance ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 to help poor families cope with the lack of economic activity as a result of the lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus disease.

Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said problems in the distribution of the cash aid were brought by lack of a system specifically from barangay officials.

In an interview over dzMM, Año cited some cases where beneficiaries were made to queue at distribution centers instead of the barangay officials doing house-to-house delivery.

As a result, health and safety protocols such as physical distancing were not observed.

Año lauded the cities of Manila, Mandaluyong, Marikina, Parañaque and Valenzuela for 90 percent to 100 percent rate of compliance.  – Emmanuel Tupas