DSWD calls out LGUs that excluded homeless people from SAP list

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) called out local government units (LGUs) on Monday, May 11, for supposedly excluding homeless families from the list of target beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

The DSWD reminded local officials to show compassion, empathy, and oneness with street dwellers and those who do not have permanent homes during this time of COVID-19 pandemic crisis.

“The DSWD is reminding once again local governments nationwide to ensure that the concepts of collective cooperation, extraordinary care, and empathy for others prevail during this time of crisis brought about by COVID-19, the DSWD statement in Pilipino said.

The Department said it has been receiving complaints over the exclusion of homeless families from the official list of SAPEmergency Subsidy Program (ESP) beneficiaries.

"Batay sa umiiral na panuntunan ng DSWD sa implementasyon ng SAP, kabilang ang mga homeless families sa mga kategorya na prayoridad mabigyan ng ayuda ng ahensya dahil sa maatas na peligro na maaaring maidulot sa kanila ng kasalukuyang krisis pangkalusugan (Based on current guidelines of the DSWD on the implementation of SAP, homeless families are included in the categories that must be given priority by the agency in delivering cash aid because they are most vulnerable to the health crisis),” the department statement said.

The DSWD also asked the LGUs to prioritize the homeless households in the distribution of food assistance, and to include them in their social protection programs.

“The DSWD knows that all are affected by the crisis, but there are vulnerable sectors with more needs that should be promptly aided, and these include our countrymen who are street dwellers. They are being given priority by the government in the implementation of SAP-ESP,” its statement in Pilipino said.

The DSWD also thanked the LGUs, private sector, and national government agencies for helping provide assistance to the Filipinos affected by the pandemic crisis.

Over 16.3 million beneficiaries of the 18 million low-income families targeted to receive the emergency subsidy under the government's Social Amelioration Program (SAP) got their cash assistance, the DSWD said yesterday.

DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said the number of SAP beneficaries nationwide increased to 16.3 millon beneficiaries, who received ₱92.1 billion worth of emergency subsidies.

"₱92.1 billion has been released to 16.3 million beneficiaries," she told the Manila Bulletin in a Viber message.

The number of SAP recipients is 90.5 percent of the 18 million households targeted to receive the cash subsidies.