Bacolod resumes digital payout of SAP aid

By Nanette Guadalquiver

August 5, 2020, 6:06 pm

BACOLOD CITY – The city government announced the resumption of the digital distribution of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) crisis financial aid to some 15,000 beneficiaries here on Wednesday.

Pacita Tero, head of the City Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), said the release through the designated payout centers will cover the two tranches of the social amelioration program (SAP) grant.

The beneficiaries will receive PHP6,000 for each month or a total of PHP12,000 for two months through Cebuana Lhuillier, ML Lhuillier or USSC Service Store.

“We have decided to resume the distribution of the SAP grant after some of our social workers and personnel already tested negative for Covid-19,” Tero said.

On July 27, the SAP digital distribution in Bacolod was suspended after personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the local DSSD office that provide assistance during the payouts had exposure to Covid-19 positive patients. They underwent swab tests and were placed under home quarantine.

Tero said those who have yet to get the SAP aid can inquire from their barangay halls on the list of payout centers and the schedule for claiming the amount.

“We are requesting the ‘left-out’ beneficiary families to claim their cash grants,” she added.

At the payout centers, a staff of the DSWD or DSSD will provide the reference number to the claimant.

Records showed that some PHP188.5 million were allotted to the 15,713 recipients in Bacolod who were listed as “left-out” or those who did not avail of the first tranche amount of PHP6,000 last April.

In Bacolod, all the SAP beneficiaries are expected to receive a total of PHP1.3 billion, including the amount allocated for the “left-outs”.

The first tranche amounting to PHP588.9 million was distributed to 98,143 residents while the second tranche of PHP583.6 billion benefited 97,266 city residents.

More than 113,000 family-beneficiaries in the city, majority of its more than half a million residents availed from the government’s subsidy program for the Covid-19 crisis.

Under the Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP), provided under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, qualified beneficiaries from low-income households were given the cash aid downloaded by the DSWD. (PNA)

 

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