The Department of Social Welfare and Development commended the local government units (LGUs) in the Caraga Region for completing the distribution of the emergency cash subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to all its intended beneficiaries in the region.

DSWD Field Office (FO) Caraga reported that as of May 8, 2020, the LGUs in the region have finished distributing the cash aid to all the 305,096 target low-income families. These families are non-Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) members.

The Department’s FO provided 73 LGUs in Caraga with a total of P1.525 billion fund for the implementation of the program, which is intended to support low-income families whose livelihoods have been affected by the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine. The LGUs have disbursed 100% of the funds.

Family beneficiaries in Caraga received a P5,000 cash subsidy.

The LGUs are now preparing their liquidation reports and other pertinent documents for the validation of DSWD. To date, some 20 local governments in the region have already submitted their liquidation reports.

Efficient SAP implementation

DSWD has earlier lauded the LGUs in Caraga for their prompt and efficient implementation of SAP.

Two days after the Department released the fund for the program, 18 local governments in the region started delivering the aid to their constituents.

Among the key strategies that the LGUs implemented which led to an efficient SAP distribution in their localities include maintaining close coordination of local social welfare and development office (LSWDOs) staff, barangay officials, and purok leaders with the personnel of DSWD FO Caraga from conducting the assessment to the distribution of the aid; the use of social media; and announcing information on SAP in the villages to keep constituents informed about the program.

LGUs have also set up hotlines where their constituents can come forward with any questions or clarifications regarding SAP. To ensure safety and order during the distribution of the aid, they also coordinated with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), especially when going to the Geographically
Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA).

In addition, the local Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) has also been involved in developing appropriate SAP implementation policies and strategies for the region.

DSWD continues to provide technical assistance to LGUs nationwide to help them finish distributing the cash aid to their target beneficiaries the soonest possible time. ###