SAP 2nd tranche payout begins in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines — The distribution of cash assistance under the second tranche of the Social Amelioration Program has already started.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development, in partnership with the Financial Service Providers (FSPs), has begun downloading the payouts to local government units in Cebu that have areas not categorized as geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDA).

The northern towns of Madridejos and Carmen in Cebu province were the first to receive the emergency cash subsidies.

“As of August 6, 2020, they were able to pay 2,213 families in Madridejos and 2,434 families in Carmen for the second tranche,” DSWD-7 said in a statement.

DSWD-7 said the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP)-regulated financial institutions authorized to offer transaction accounts for SAP in Central Visayas are Starpay, RCBC, PayMaya and Unionbank.

The FSPs have been identified through the technical assistance of the BSP, which has expertise on digitization and enabling policies and regulatory environment for financial inclusion and digital payments.

Moreover, the Starpay is currently conducting the payout with its cash-out partners M Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop and Gemmary Pawnshop in the towns of Santa Fe, Borbon, Daanbantayan, Tudela and San Remigio in Cebu.

For SAP beneficiaries in Cebu City, they are encouraged to download the PayMaya application at https://official.paymaya.com/CAK1/f5cf02c and to register the mobile number that was indicated in their Social Amelioration Card (SAC).

Once registered online, SAP beneficiaries must click the DSWD banner in the home screen and answer the DSWD verification form.

Beneficiaries should also provide the same information indicated in the SAC. They will receive a confirmation message on the SAP grant voucher in PayMaya.

They can claim the cash through identified Smart Padala agents. The cash aid can also be used to pay electric bills, to buy mobile load or to pay grocery items. — KQD (FREEMAN)