FILE PHOTO FROM PNA
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday said the completion of the second tranche of cash aid from the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) may take until August.
DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag said during the hearing of the House of Representatives Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability that they target to disburse majority of the remaining cash end by end of July.
However, some payouts might extend to August due to mobility, security, and health factors that may hamper the distribution of the second tranche subsidy.
This includes conflict-affected areas or those with security threats may require systematic coordination and planning with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police (PNP) to ensure the safety of the SAP implementors.
“These are islands, municipalities, barangays, or upland areas, which might take more than a day or two to reach,” he said.
To date, Pamonag said the DSWD has so far disbursed P19.4 billion emergency cash subsidies to 3.2 million beneficiaries for the second tranche.
Pamonag said delays might also occur due to the need for SAP implementors to observe the 14-day quarantine once exposed to COVID-19.
Through the SAP cash assistance, low-income families are able to receive P5,000 to P8,000.
More than 18 million poor households received the first tranche of emergency subsidies under the program.
