DISTRIBUTION OF SAP SECOND TRANCHE BEGINS JUNE 17

THE distribution of the second tranche of the social amelioration program (SAP) cash subsidy will start on Wednesday, June 17, the Department of the Interior and Local Government said on Tuesday, June 16.

DILG Undersecretary and spokesperson Jonathan Malaya said the distribution will be piloted in Benguet.

“May pilot distribution payout na po ang DSWD sa Benguet sa Cordillera Administrative Region. Do’n po magsisimula at sunod-sunod na po hanggang sa June 23,” he said.

Malaya said around 4.2 million poor families who were left out in the first tranche of SAP would be prioritized this time.

“Through our coordination with the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) ay nakalap na po natin ‘yung numero at pangalan ng mga heads of the household na mga waitlisted at mga left out na families sa bansa at sa huling datos na ibinigay sa amin ng mga LGUs nasa 4.2 million itong numero ng mga pamilyang ito,” he said.

The funds may be given manually or sent through bank transfer.

Covered by the manual payout are the families who have no access to internet or have no bank accounts and smart phones.

Electronic or cashless transaction will target beneficiaries who can receive the funds through their bank accounts.

The second tranche of SAP will be given to up to 18 million beneficiaries in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon (except Aurora), Calabarzon, Benguet, Pangasinan, Iloilo Province, Cebu Province, Bacolod, Davao City, Albay Province, and Zamboanga City, the areas which remained under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the month of May.

Under Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, cash subsidy amounting to P5,000 to P8,000 will be given to each low-income family for two months depending on the minimum wage of the particular region to provide for their basic needs during the lockdown.

President Rodrigo Duterte has tapped the police and the military to assist in the distribution of SAP amid alleged mishandling and manipulation of the funds by the local government officials.

The DILG has filed criminal charges against 397 local officials and launched investigations on 663 individuals, including 267 elected officials.