QC asks for 25-day extension for aid distribution

Quezon City has asked the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of the Interior and Local Government for a 25-day extension to distribute the first tranche of the social amelioration program to give the city government ample time to validate the list of beneficiaries.

According to Saleema Refran’s 24 Oras report on Thursday, Quezon City, which is the most populated city in the country, has distributed less that 10 percent of the cash aid among target families.

Based on the data of the Quezon City Social Services Development Department (QCSSDD), only 25,215 families of the 377,854 have received their financial assistance.

Meanwhile, only 75,354 families have submitted their social amelioration cards.

The city government has yet to distribute more than 300,000 forms.

“Sa laki kasi ng populasyon ng Quezon City at sa number ng beneficiaries na binigay po sa amin, talagang medyo mahirap pong mag-distribute,” QCSSDD chief Fe Macale said.

“Sinisiguro po namin lalo na sa pag-validate namin na ang makakatanggap po ay talagang karapat-dapat po according po sa guidelines na binigay po ng DSWD,” Macale added.

The supposed deadline for the distribution of the first tranche is on April 30, Thursday.  The DILG earlier warned local officials could face charges for fialing to complete the task.

However, due to the city’s big population, Mayor Joy Belmonte asked for an extension, Macale said.

“Si Mayor, nag-appeal siya na kung puwede bigyan kami ng extension ng mga 25 days… Ang plano namin ay mag-payout ng 15,000 beneficiaries per day,” she said.

Earlier, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said a seven-day extension will be implemented in Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, Rizal, Bulacan, Cebu City and Davao City.

Other LGUs with payout problems will have a four-day extension to complete the distribution of the first tranche, Año said.

Año also urged LGUs to speed up the liquidation of the released funds for the first tranche to prevent delays in the roll out of the second one.

Under the guidelines of the social amelioration program, the LGUs are required to submit to the DSWD a liquidation report within 15 working days from the completion of the distribution.

Around 18 million low-income households and those in the informal sector were targeted to receive monthly cash subsidies amounting to P5,000 to P8,000 for two months as mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act. —Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News