COVID-19 hits 11 DSWD frontliners

A beneficiary in Basey, Samar receives cash aid through the Social Amelioration Program amid the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo from DSWD-8)

MANILA, Philippines — Eleven employees of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have contracted the novel coronavirus as the agency heads the distribution of the government’s cash assistance program amid the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

DSWD Undersecretary Glen Paje reported that over 900 social workers are also quarantined for possible COVID-19 infection during the implementation of the first tranche of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

“Noong first tranche, sa kagustuhan nating maging maayos at maipahatid ang serbisyong ito, ay umabot sa labing isang manggagawa ng DSWD ang kumpirmadong nahawa ng COVID-19 at mahigit siyam na raan din po ang na-self-quarantine,” Paje said in a televised public breifing.

(During the first tranche distribution, in our bid to deliver smooth services,eleven DSWD workers were confirmed to have been infected with COVID-19 and more than nine hundred others were quarantined.)

“Kaya po para sa second tranche, kasama sa aming preparasyon ang pagsisiguro na wala sa mga hanay ng SAP implementors natin ang madadapuan at mahahawa sa sakit na ito,’ he added.

(So for the second tranche, our preparations include ensuring that none of our SAP implementors will be infected.)

The Social Welfare Department is set to start the distribution of the second tranche of benefits under the SAP this week, with beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4ps) being the first ones to receive the cash aid.

Under the SAP, around 18 million poor families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic will receive a monthly cash aid of P5,000 to 8,000 for two months.

GSG