MANILA, Philippines — The distribution of social amelioration program (SAP) emergency cash assistance to poor families in the National Capital Region (NCR) is now 70 percent complete, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.
“Isipin din kalagayan lalo na sa Metro Manila, pinakamarami kasi dito. Pero in fairness naman, as of last night nasa 70 percent completion na sila so ibig sabihin malaki na ang na-i-progress o na-i-advance nung huling araw na nagkausap tayo,” Año said in an interview on dzMM.
(Think of the condition here in Metro Manila, there are many families here. But in fairness, as of last night, it is 70 percent complete, so it means they have progressed since the last time we talked about it.)
The Department of the Interior and Local Government previously reminded the local government units (LGUs) that they set April 30 as the deadline for distribution of cash subsidies for poor families affected by the coronavirus disease pandemic.
The DILG stressed thatLGUs that fail to comply with the deadline will be held accountable.
Año, however, said the DILG will hear the LGUs’ explanation on shortcomings related to the distribution of the financial aid.
“Titingnan naman natin kung ano dahilan kung bakit hindi sila naka-comply. Hindi talaga biro itong pagdidistribute ng social amelioration program sa dami ng ididistribute at dami ng household at limited time,” Año said.
(We will look into why they failed to meet the deadline. It is very challenging to distribute the social amelioration program aid package considering the large number of households and limited time.)
The SAP, aimed at helping over 18 million families during the enhanced community quarantine period due to the coronavirus pandemic, was mandated under the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act of 2020.
Under the law, low-income families would receive financial aid of from P5,000 to P8,000, depending on the minimum wage in their region.