16.5 M beneficiaries get cash aid – DSWD

Over 16.5 million beneficiaries or 91.93 percent of the 18 million low-income households targeted to receive the first tranche of emergency subsidies have been served by the government's Social Amelioration Program (SAP), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Wednesday.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said that as of May 12, P93.5 billion has been distributed to 16.5 million SAP beneficiaries nationwide.

“Overall, ₱93.5 billion has been distributed to 16.5 million beneficiaries of Social Amelioration Program. So, meaning to say, we have reached the 91.93 percent of the total beneficiaries targeted to receive the emergency subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program,” he said in Pilipino during the "Laging Handa" network briefing on Wednesday.

He said 1,078 of the 1,634 local government units (LGUs) have completed the SAP distribution.

In the National Capital Region (NCR), eight cities already recorded 100-percent SAP payout, he said. He also noted that of the 17 regions, Region V (Bicol) and CARAGA completed the distribution of cash subsidies.

Bautista reminded anew the LGUs, especially in areas under enhanced community quarantine, to immediately submit their liquidation reports after completing the payout so as not to further delay the second phase implementation of SAP.

He said 151 LGUs already submitted their liquidation reports.

STAY-HOME, NO SWIMMING – Members of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Coast Guard patrol a beach in Baseco, Manila, to strictly enforce the enhanced community quarantine rules on staying home and to prevent the adventurous to take a swim in the area under the ‘No Swimming Allowed’ rule. Swimming in the area used to be a pastime when temperatures rise. (Ali Vicoy)