TACLOBAN CITY, Philippines – An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Eastern Visayas (DSWD-8) has called on barangay officials to be honest in listing beneficiaries of the social amelioration program (SAP).
“This early, we are asking our barangay officials, who are responsible in the identification of their respective (SAP) beneficiaries, to be honest and truthful in coming up with the list. They should really include in their lists the poorest of the poor of their respective barangays as they are really the priority of our government during this time of crisis,” said DSWD-8 SAP focal person
Joshua Kempis.
Kempis declined to say how many individuals will be receiving the SAP in Eastern Visayas as the list will still be verified by their central office.
Among those qualified to receive the P5,000 cash assistance from government are senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, pregnant women, and those who are under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program(4Ps).
According to Kempis, their office has started the distribution of the SAP forms to all local government units in the region and they expect to receive them back after Holy Week.
All local government units need to have a memorandum of agreement with the DSWD before downloading the funds.
Kempis said their office, in turn, will submit the list of beneficiaries to their central office for verification.
Felipa Espejo, barangay chairwoman of Barangay 62 in Tacloban City, admitted that she directed the barangay health workers to distribute the SAP forms to her constituents.
“You know, the perception of the people here is if you are listed, you will automatically receive the P5,000. Now, if they will be delisted, they will put the blame on me,” Espejo said in a phone interview.
According to her, out of the more than 1,400 families of the village, they were initially informed by the City Social and Development Office that only 276 persons are qualified to receive the P5,000 cash assistance.