BACOLOD City – The digital distribution of cash aid to more than 15,000 beneficiaries in this city under the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) started yesterday and will run until Aug. 9.
This move came after some of the this city’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) employees tested negative for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
DSSD head Pacita Tero requested “left out” family-beneficiaries to claim their cash assistance from payout centers such as MLhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier and Universal Storefront Services Corp. – all accredited by financial service provider Starpay Corp.
She also advised recipients to inquire from their barangay halls about the schedule per village of claiming the financial aid.
To recall, the digital releasing of cash aid here was suspended on July 27 following the exposure of 10 DSSD and 10 DSWD personnel to a patient positive for COVID-19.
Tero said these employees – in-charge of the digital releasing – also came in contact with an employee of the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs who tested positive for the virus.
A wife of a DSSD staff also tested positive for the virus, she added.
This city received a budget of P180.5 million for “left out” recipients. Each of these beneficiaries will receive a lump sum of P12,000 to cover the P6,000 they failed acquire during the SAP first tranche.
Figures released by the city government showed that the first tranche amounting to P588.9 million was distributed to 98,143 residents. The second tranche, on the other hand, is expected to benefit 97,266 beneficiaries.
This city has received a total of P1.3 billion in SAP assistance./PN
