Labella allowed to ink SAP deal with DSWD

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City Council has authorized Mayor Edgardo Labella to enter into an agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for the implementation of the social amelioration program (SAP).

This is to address the present situation brought about by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the city.

The memorandum of agreement was reviewed by the City Legal Office prior to the approval of the authorization measure penned by Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia.

Based on CLO’s legal opinion, the council said, the terms and conditions stated are not contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order, and public policy.

In a previous interview, Labella announced that village chiefs will be the ones to implement the SAP in their respective barangays in coordination with the city’s Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS).

The mayor appealed to the barangay officials, ally or not, to be objective and religiously follow the SAP guidelines in the distribution of the cash aid.

As per DSWD, the target beneficiaries are senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant and lactating mothers, solo parents, overseas Filipinos in distress, indigent indigenous people, homeless citizens, and informal workers.

DSWD is the implementing agency of SAP.

The social amelioration measures aim to help mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 health crisis.

Labella said SAP is a nationally funded project and there has to be accountability.

The national government allocated P262, 000 for the city, he said.

With the city having at least a million population, he admitted that the amount will not be enough and barangay officials "will have a difficult time."

Labella added that the distribution is a challenge the barangay officials need to face.  KQD (FREEMAN)