ILOILO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD 6) on Tuesday cited local government units in the region, which were first to distribute Social Amelioration Program (SAP) aid to qualified households.
In a virtual presser, Rhea Peñaflor, DSWD’s assistant secretary, noted some local government units have nearly completed their payout.
“We thank the local government units that already released the Social Amelioration Program cash grant in their respective municipalities,” she said.
Among those with notable accomplishments include the town of Maasin in Iloilo which is already at 99.6 percent done with the payout or have already distributed to 6,033 beneficiaries; Candoni, Negros Occidental at 98.81 percent with 2,912 beneficiaries; Salvador Benedicto also in Negros Occidental at 85.35 percent with 2,435 beneficiaries.
Most of the local government units commended by the DSWD 6 are from Antique province.
Peñaflor said these include the town of Belison at 97.6 percent with 1,831 beneficiaries; Valderrama at 96.79 percent with 1,479 beneficiaries; Culisi at 95.88 percent with 4, 660 beneficiaries.
Laua-an in Antique is at 81.91 percent with 2, 585 beneficiaries while Anini-y is at 80.44 percent with 2, 114 beneficiaries, she said.
She also thanked the local chief executives who showed their commitment to list only qualified individuals to finish the SAP distribution.
Among these are Mayors John Tarrosa of Zaraga, Liecel Seville of New Lucena, Geefre Alonsabe of Aminodian and Jett Rojas of Ajuy, all of Iloilo province.
Ajuy town has ordered the barangay officials to post the lists of beneficiaries in their respective areas for transparency purposes.
In a separate statement, Rojas said the residents can report to the barangay or municipal officials if there are beneficiaries on the list but are not qualified to receive the PHP6,000 government cash grant.
Several barangay captains have already returned the cash grants to the municipal government due to the inclusion of ineligible families who have already received the cash grants.
Rojas attributed the inclusion of ineligible beneficiaries to the erroneous data they filled in at the Social Amelioration Card.
“We are now in a crisis where people need help from the government and other sectors of the society,” he said.
Meanwhile, Peñaflor appealed to the public to include the front-liners in their prayers.
She said three members of the Philippine Army had sacrificed their lives in an encounter with rebels in Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental last April 19.
The soldiers were conducting community security patrol in connection to SAP distribution when the clash happened.
“They (front-liners) are there. While they distribute (SAP), they risk their lives not only from Covid-19 but from other elements. Thus, we appeal for you to pray for us so that we can continue. We want to help those who are needy and hungry,” she said. (PNA)
* Stay at Home and START YOUR OWN blog site, business or personal website, or e-commerce store at
www.wirenine.comLinkback:
https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=101305.0
