Sidecar driver Rowell Tupas, 54, receives the Social Amelioration Program’s P 8,000 financial assistance in Barangay Vitalez in Paranaque City. (INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES)
MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) nationwide were given until May 10 to complete the distribution of the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) financial assistance to qualified residents, Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said Thursday.
“Well, for Metro Manila, I will be extending the deadline on May 10. For some other areas, it depends on their effort,” Año said on ANC when asked about extending the deadline for SAP distribution.
“But we are already (at) 77.51 percent, as of 8 p.m. last night so 985 out 1,624 LGUs,” he added.
Año clarified that all LGUs will be given until May 10 to distribute the first tranche of the financial assistance.
“We have received reports from our field offices na kahit na 24/7 ang pamimigay ng ayuda ay mahihirapan talagang mameet ng LGUs ang May 7 deadline lalo na ‘yung mga nasa Metro Manila. We are therefore giving them until May 10 para makompleto lahat ‘yan,” he said in a statement.
(We have received reports from our field offices that even if the distribution is done 24/7, LGUs are still having difficulties to meet the May 7 deadline especially in Metro Manila. We are therefore giving them until May 10 to complete all cash aid distribution.)
This is the second extension for distribution of cash assistance as the interior department set the first deadline on April 30.and was later extended until May 7.
Año previously said LGUs in National Capital Region face the biggest challenges in speeding up the distribution without sacrificing social distancing.
Meanwhile, Año said he ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to allow citizens to receive financial grants from local government units even beyond curfew hours.
“We are now working 24/7, in fact, I have given instruction to the PNP to exempt citizens who are going to pay off points and distribution points to be exempted from the curfew because our LGUs are really working overtime,” Año said over ANC.
Año, however, noted that the Caraga and Bicol regions have complete the disbursement of financial subsidy under the SAP.
“There are already regions that are almost completed. Region 13 in Caraga and Region V are 99.85 percent by today,” he said.
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This is the second extension for distribution of cash assistance as the interior department set the first deadline on April 30.and was later extended until May 7.
Año previously said LGUs in National Capital Region face the biggest challenges in speeding up the distribution without sacrificing social distancing.
Meanwhile, Año said he ordered the Philippine National Police (PNP) to allow citizens to receive financial grants from local government units even beyond curfew hours.
“We are now working 24/7 in fact I have given instruction to the PNP to exempt citizens who are going to pay off points and distribution points to be exempted from the curfew because our LGUs are really working overtime,” Año said.
Año, however, noted that the Caraga and Bicol regions have complete the disbursement of financial subsidy under the SAP.
“There are already regions that are almost completed. Region 13 in Caraga and Region V are 99.85 percent by today,” he said.