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Social amelioration aid distribution in Bgy. Payatas, QC continues until the wee hours

The distribution of the cash subsidy for low-income families under the government's Social Amelioration Program continued into the wee hours of Monday in Barangay Payatas in Quezon City.

The payout ended before 6 a.m., according to a report by James Agustin on GMA News' Unang Balita.

Beneficiaries waited as much as 14 hours in line outside and inside the covered court.

A power outage caused much inconvenience but beneficiaries still stayed. 

Three generators were used to provide light at the venue, while lights from two firetrucks were trained on the line of beneficiaries outside the covered court.

Normal power supply resumed at 3:15 a.m.

Barangay officials said they have been having problems about the power supply for five days already on Bulacan Street.

"Hinihingan na kami ng report ng DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government) at DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) kaya lang hindi kami makapagbigay ng exact figure kasi unang-una, kailangan lahat dadaan sa tabulation ng computer para may SAP (Social Amelioration Program) data. E umaga pa lang wala na kaming kuryente," barangay administrator Florante Clarita said.

Around 4,000 target beneficiaries were serviced at the venue.

The process slowed down as the staff validating the forms also saw mismatching in codes.

"Nagkakaroon ng problema sa coding. Hindi match 'yung number na binibigay nila sa payroll namin. Kaya talagang iisa-isahin mo pa, lalong tumatagal," Noel Adrias, assistant city treasurer for administration said.

Barangay Commonwealth

Meanwhile, in Barangay Commonwealth also in Quezon City, the distribution of the social amelioration benefit ended at 2 a.m. on Monday.

Around 2,000 beneficiaries were at the venue, some of them waiting for as long as 11 hours in line.

Some tried to get cash subsidy twice, however.

"I don’t know kung merong talagang sinasadya o sinusubukang makakuha muli," Arnel Cleofas, acting assistant city treasurer for operations, said.

Deadline

The deadline for the said distribution of cash subsidy nationwide was on Sunday, May 10.

However, on Monday morning, some residents bearing Social Amelioration Program cards went to the payout venue in Barangay Payatas hoping to receive the cash subsidy.

Barangay officials said they will coordinate with the Quezon City local government regarding the matter since the said residents were not on the list of beneficiaries scheduled to receive the subsidy on Sunday.

Under the Social Amelioration Program, 18 million low-income families will receive cash subsidy ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 for two months to help them cope with the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. —KG, GMA News