DSWD readies cash aid for 1.1M families in Bicol hit by COVID-19 restrictions

LEGAZPI CITY—At least 1.1 million families were target beneficiaries of some P11.4 million in financial aid package of the government in the Bicol region to alleviate the impact of quarantine restrictions in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Marygisselle Mesa, spokesperson of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said the social amelioration program (SAP) for some of the country’s poorest families would give each family P5,000 in cash aid for April and May. This was meant to cushion the impact of lockdowns on livelihood and jobs.

At least 374,627 families are eligible for benefits under SAP, mainly those enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). Also covered by SAP are 772,827 informal sector workers, or those with no permanent jobs, househelps, drivers and displaced no-work, no-pay employees.

Mesa said 4Ps beneficiaries, who receive a fixed amount of P1,350 (P600 for rice subsidy and P750 for health grant), would be given additional P3,650 SAP grant.

Families with senior citizens and persons with disabilities (PWD), would get additional P500 in assistance.

Families that received financial aid from other government agencies would also be entitled to a “top-up” assistance from the social package of the DSWD.

Mesa said the DSWD has started coordinating with local government units (LGU) across the region for the distribution of cash aid.

Edited by TSB