EXTENDED. The Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Office 6 has extended the release of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for drivers until January 31, 2021. In Antique, there are 646 drivers identified as beneficiaries. (Photo courtesy of DSWD-6)
SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD-6) is extending the release of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) aid to public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers, including those in Antique until January 31 this year.
Rayner Jude Lobaton, DSWD Regional Office 6 focal person for Technical Assistance and Resource Augmentation, said in a phone interview Wednesday that the DSWD has extended the release of the SAP after learning that there are PUJ drivers who have not received their financial assistance.
“In the province of Antique, there is a total of 646 drivers who are beneficiaries of the SAP,” he said.
Those from Antique belonged to the first tranche of beneficiaries that targeted 16,000 drivers all over Western Visayas.
“The list of the driver-beneficiaries had been provided by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), “he said.
“The drivers had been affected because they were unable to operate especially during the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) lockdown,” he said.
“The SAP payout originally was only last December 18 to 31 but it was extended to enable other drivers to receive their assistance,” he said.
He said that the payout is done through the M Lhuillier Financial Services after the drivers present their Beneficiary Reference Number (BRN), which is available in Pantawid municipal offices, and professional driver’s license to claim their subsidy.
“For those drivers who could not personally receive their payout they could have their authorized representatives to do so for them,” he said. (PNA)
