REPORT CORRUPTION IN SAP DISTRIBUTION

THE Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC) has urged the public to report corruption in the distribution of cash aid under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) and other coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) programs of the government.

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica said complaints regarding government programs and policies during the community quarantine might be reported through the agency’s official number (0906) 692-7324.

Greco said anomalies in SAP distribution, which was intended to give aid to poor families affected by the pandemic, can be reported through the PACC’s official email address, pacc.complaints@ or its official account, https:// facebook. com/ pacc.gov.ph.

There have been complaints that some local government officials were messing with the distribution of cash subsidies from the government.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has also found that SAP beneficiaries who were ineligible for aid have received multiple financial assistance from the different state agencies.

The P200-billion SAP provided emergency subsidies ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 to poor families in April and May.

Some 17 million low-income households in areas under enhanced community quarantine and modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) are expected to receive the second wave of SAP subsidy.

President Rodrigo Duterte approved the Cabinet’s recommendation to bring back Metro Manila, Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal and Cavite under MECQ from August 4 to 18 following the request for a “timeout” of medical practitioners with the surge in Covid-19 cases.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. assured the residents of areas placed under MECQ that they would receive cash aid, since it would be included in the proposed Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2).

The Bayanihan 2, which calls for the creation of a P140-billion standby fund for health and socioeconomic programs, was passed on third and final reading by the Senate, a day after Duterte called for its speed approval during his State of the Nation Address.

While waiting for the enactment of Bayanihan 2, Roque said the Palace was expecting local government units (LGUs) to help their constituents during the MECQ.

“We expect LGUs to give even a little cash aid to the people,” he said.