Second round of cash aid started; 1.3M families benefited so far – Palace

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang on Thursday announced that the second round of cash aid under the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) has already started, with 1.3 million low-income families benefited so far.

“Nag-umpisa na po ang distribusyon ng second tranche ng SAP o iyong ating amelioration program,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said during his online briefing.

(The distribution of SAP’s second tranche has already started.)

“Mayroong 1.3 million na pong mga pamilya na 4Ps [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program] beneficiaries ang nakatanggap ng second tranche ng SAP,” he added.

(There are so far 1.3 million families under 4Ps who have received the second tranche of SAP.)

Roque said the payouts started on Tuesday, June 16, in Benguet.

Other areas that will receive the second round of cash aid are Pangasinan, Region III, Metro Manila, Region IV-A, Albay Provinces, Iloilo, Bacolod City, Cebu, Zamboanga City, and Davao City, Roque added.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, some 18 million families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will be given cash aid of P5,000 to 8,000 for two months.

Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development earlier said the next in line to receive the cash aid are the five million “waitlisted” or those who were not able to receive it during the first tranche.

President Rodrigo Duterte previously approved the inclusion of 5 million low-income families as beneficiaries of the social amelioration program.

KGA