Pasig City: Supplemental cash aid distribution on

MANILA, Philippines — Pasig City on Tuesday started the distribution of its P8,000 cash assistance under its localized version of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for families in the city that did not receive financial aid from the national government.

Mayor Vico Sotto said the supplemental SAP from city government targets to provide cash assistance to around 160,000 families who were left out of the national government’s SAP.

“Nagsisimula po ngayon. Pilot run po. House-to-house po ang Pasig supplemental SAP (It is starting now. It’s a pilot run. The Pasig supplemental SAP will be distributed house-to-house),” he said on Facebook live.

Sotto said the distribution will start in smaller barangays in the city.

Government employees, however, will not be included in the distribution, the mayor said, adding that those qualified for the Department of Labor and Employment’s (DOLE) COVID-19 Adjustment Measures Program (CAMP) and other amelioration programs of the government might also not receive the cash assistance from the city.

According to the mayor, the distribution of cash assistance from the national government’s first tranche of SAP under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is almost completed.

The Pasig City government has secured more than P1 billion for its supplemental SAP to aid families reeling from the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Before the distribution, peace and order officers will first inspect the streets of the barangays.

“Titingnan nila kung clear. Kung magulo sa area ninyo, baka next time na lang po, pero kung maayos po, walang mga nakatambay sa labas, walang kaguluhang nangyayari, dadaan ‘yung peace and order officers natin, pag clear po susunod po sa kanila ‘yung magbibigay ng forms,” said the 30-year-old mayor.

(They will check if the streets are clear. If there is lack ororder in your areas, we might just give the cash aid next time. But if the situation is okay and there are no bystanders outside, then local government staff will come and hand out forms.)

Once the forms are filled out, personnel from the city government will then provide the P8,000 cash per family.

Sotto said that even those living in condominium units and those renting houses in Pasig will also receive the financial aid.

“Kasama po ang condo. Lahat po. Pag sinabi ko pong lahat. Ibig sabihin lahat. Kasama po ang nangungupahan. Basta residente ng Pasig. Ang hindi lang po siguro mabibigyan, ‘yung mga transient na workers na qualified din po siguro sa DOLE – CAMP o sa ibang ayuda ng national [government], baka hindi na namin kayanin ‘yun,” he added.

(Those living in condominium units are also included. Everyone is included. When I say everyone, I mean everyone, as long as you are a resident of Pasig. Perhaps those who will not receive are transient workers who may already be also qualified in DOLE’s CAMP or other amelioration programs of the national government.)

“‘Yung mga government employees hindi na kasama kasi sumesweldo naman tayo lahat, may hazard pay na may OT pay pa (Government employees will not be included because everyone of us still receive salaries and even have hazard and overtime pay),” he also said.

Sotto, however, urged families who are well off to refuse the local government’s SAP so it can be given to other families who need it more.

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