ILOILO City – Mayor Jerry Treñas expects to receive a show cause order from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) asking him to explain the slow distribution of the national government’s emergency cash assistance under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
“Nagahulat ako padal-an sang sulat,” he said.
The SAP deadline was originally April 30. This deadline was extended twice – first on May 7 then on May 10.
The city government failed to beat these deadlines. As of yesterday, some 3,000 beneficiaries were yet to receive their emergency cash assistance of P6,000 each.
Treñas said he was ready to explain the delay to the DILG and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). These were the following:
* there were lots of SAP beneficiaries in the city – 79,215
* social distancing, which must be observed during the release of the emergency assistance, slowed down the process
* dearth of cashiers at city hall
* the Development Bank of the Philippine ran out of cash
* there were many changes (inclusions) in the list of beneficiaries
* barangay captains were very measured in identifying/listing beneficiaries
“Ang mga kapitan gusto nila nga indi sila magsala kay sila ang maigoan,” said Treñas.
He further said, “Delay gid kay gin-include naton ang kabataan sang mga 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries. Ginpadugang pa gid ang waay kakuha sang assistance from the Department of Labor and Employment.”
Thursday last week, DILG secretary Eduardo Año said 11 mayors from Western Visayas would be issued show cause orders.
“Mabagal ang pagbibigay ng ayuda sa kani-kanilang mga constituents,” according to Año. “While the vast majority of local government units were able to distribute their SAP before the deadline leading to a national payout rate of 97 percent yesterday, may ilan pa rin na naiwan. The DILG and the public deserve to know why they failed to complete their distribution.”
Around 18 million low-income families were targeted to receive the SAP cash subsidy ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 for two months as mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act 11469)./PN
