MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday that cash-strapped residents of Iligan City and Lanao del Sur will no longer be covered by the second tranche of the government’s social amelioration progam (SAP).
These two provinces have just returned to modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) due to rising number of coronavirus cases in their localities.
DSWD Undersecretary Glenn Paje however said that eligible residents from the two areas can still seek assistance in other programs of the DSWD, the lead agency in the implementation of the cash subsidy program.
“Bagamat nais din natin matulungan ang lungsod ng Iligan, sa Lanao del Sur, ay hindi po sakop kasi ng second tranche ang lugar na ito,” Paje said in a televised briefing. “Maaari po yung talagang nangangailangan dito ay mag-avail sila ng ibang program ng DSWD.”
(Although we want to help those from Iligan and Lanao del Sur, they are not part of the second tranche anymore… Those who are in need can avail other programs of the DSWD.)
Paje said the agency is providing assistance for medical, burial and even educational needs of the public.
Iligan City and Lanao del Sur, along with Bacolod City, reverted to a stricter lockdown due to their increasing COVID-19 cases and lacking health system.
Paje said residents of Bacolod City can still expect cash assistance from SAP since they are included in its second tranche which has yet to reach 400,000 beneficiaries.
“Ngayon po ay umaabot pa rin sa mga 400,000 ang mga benepisyaryo na dapat mabigyan, maabutan ng ayuda,” Paje said.
(Right now, there are about 400,000 beneficiaries who have yet to receive cash assistance.)
Paje said the DSWD has so far distributed over P82 billion to 13.7 million families.
Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act that expired in June, low-income families are entitled to P5,000 to P8,000, intended for April and May, depending on the minimum wage rate of their respective regions.