Beneficiaries of the emergency cash subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) being implemented by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have expressed their gratitude to the government and frontline workers for delivering the aid to them during the implementation of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Marites Ambrea, a resident of Barangay Fortune in Marikina said the cash subsidy was a great help to her family as it provided for their essential needs.
“Malaki ang naitulong nito sa aking pamilya. Ipambibili ko ito ng bigas, gamot, gatas, at bitamina na itinuturing kong pinaka-esensyal ngayong panahon ng ECQ,” Marites said.
Meanwhile, Irene Sabong of Barangay Navotas West, Navotas City said the SAP cash assistance proves that the government is working to extend aid to those affected by the impacts of ECQ.
“Hindi matatapos ang aking pasasalamat sapagkat ito ay hindi lamang pera kundi tulong upang maitawid ang pang araw-araw naming buhay sa gitna ng ECQ na ito,” Irene added.
Annabelle Suyom, a beneficiary of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Manila, is also thankful for the cash aid that her family received as a top-up to their 4Ps grants. 4Ps households are among the target beneficiaries of SAP; the assistance served as a top-up amount added to their regular cash grants and rice allowance.
“Maraming salamat DSWD! Makakaasa po kayo na ang subsidiyang natanggap ng aming pamilya ay gagamitin namin sa dapat talaga nitong paggamitan. Ipambibili po namin ito ng pagkain at mahahalagang gamot at kagamitan na kakailanganin sa kasagsagan ng pandemyang sakit na COVID-19,” she said.
Beneficiaries also took to social media to express their gratitude for receiving the aid. A netizen named Lorilla Mataganas thanked the government for the SAP and narrated how she used the money as capital for her sari-sari store business.
“Ginawa ko pong puhunan kasi po wala naman kaming ibang aasahan. Kaya pinuhunan ko na lang po. Kahit pa piso-piso lang ang tubo at least hindi po mauubos agad yung binigay ng DSWD na SAP. Maraming salamat po. Gobless,” she shared on Facebook.
Another netizen named Ariel Malaca said the cash assistance was a big help to him, a tricycle driver who lost his income during the ECQ, as well as to his mother. In return, he pledged that they would stay at home.
“Salamat po sa tulong ng gobyerno bilang tricycle driver na una nang naapektuhan ng COVID-19. Malakimg tulong po lalo na sa aking ina na nag-medication. Umasa po kayo na susunod kami sa pag-stay at home,” he remarked.
Netizen Jessie Villanueva thanked President Rodrigo R. Duterte and all those involved in the implementation of SAP, including the local government units (LGUs), for delivering the cash assistance to families in need, while a netizen named Lyzeth Espinosa lauded the service provided by the Department.
“Salamat po nang taos puso sa serbisyo na ibinibigay ninyo sa aming lahat!” she posted.
Staying true to its mandate of assisting the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged and to its commitment of providing “serbisyong may malasakit,” DSWD continues to deliver the SAP emergency cash subsidy to low-income families assessed to be most affected by the imposition of community quarantine given their existing life situations or circumstances.
DSWD thanked the beneficiaries who have expressed their gratitude for the aid, emphasizing that hearing such help boost the the morale of not just the Department’s frontline workers, but also its partners in the LGUs and fellow national government agencies and inspire them to continue working, amid the threat of the virus, to deliver the aid to Filipino families in need. ###
