ILOILO CITY – Iloilo Vice Governor Christine Garin on Tuesday pushed for the inclusion of elected and appointed village officials to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
Qualified SAP beneficiaries in the region are entitled to a PHP6, 000 financial assistance for two months while enhanced community quarantine is imposed to prevent the further spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
In her privilege speech during the Sangguniang Panlalawigan’s regular session on Tuesday afternoon, Garin has called on the DSWD, the House of Representatives and the Senate to do everything under their power to include the village officials, specifically the village captains, secretaries, treasurers, and councilors in the target beneficiaries under the SAP.
“Of course, we know that there are a number of households that are included under the SAP. They are given PHP6,000 per month, but here, our village officials, especially the village captain, councilors, secretaries, and treasurers are not included,” Garin said in a media interview shortly after the session.
She underscored the appointed and elected officials are on the front line during the current pandemic yet they were denied government’s financial assistance.
Village officials also serve as a springboard of complaints, work round the clock to maintain the village’s peace and order, deliver relief goods to households, among others, she said.
“Is it fair for our barangay officials tasked to assist in distributing the SAP to indigent members of the community giving them PHP6,000 each for two months without them receiving any?” Garin asked.
She said appointed and elected village officials also have families to feed yet they only receive an honorarium of only more or less PHP4,000 per month.
In the province of Iloilo, village chiefs receive an average of PHP5,000 monthly and PHP4,000 for secretaries, treasurers and councilors.
Garin called to address the resulting inequality caused by Memorandum Circular 09 which excludes village officials from receiving SAP aid.
She said recognizing the village officials and their contributions to the fight against the pandemic will be more in harmony with the Constitution’s concept of social justice.
“Under a climate of fairness and equity, healing will not be so difficult,” she said.
While elected and appointed village officials are excluded under the amelioration program, the DSWD has earlier clarified that village watchmen, daycare workers, and village health workers can qualify for the SAP.
Rhea Peñaflor, DSWD assistant secretary, said that village watchmen, daycare workers, and village health workers can qualify if they have no or low, or no other source of income and none of their family member has received aid from the government. (PNA)
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