Palace expects DSWD to finish 2nd tranche of SAP distribution by July

(File Photo) Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque. IMAGE from the PCOO Facebook page

MANILA, Philippines — The distribution of financial aid for the second tranche of the social amelioration program was “slow,” Malacañang said Monday as it expressed hope for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to finish the release by the end of July.

“Mabagal po talaga. Masasabi ko po na nabagalan din ang Palasyo sa proseso ng pangalawang tranche,” Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said in an online briefing.

(It’s really slow. I can say that the Palace finds the processing of the second tranche slow.)

“Sabi po ng DSWD hanggang katapusan ng Hulyo and the Palace will hold DSWD to that,” he further said, when asked when it expects the completion of the distribution.

(DSWD said until the end of July and the Palace will hold DSWD to that.)

Roque said over 3.3 million beneficiaries have so far received the second round of government aid which amounts to P20.1 billion.

Earlier, the DSWD said the distribution was taking some time due to the validation of the list of beneficiaries to prevent “deduplication.”

DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista disclosed that the agency has so far found over 81,000 duplicate beneficiaries and 52,000 ineligible recipients.

JPV