Angry Muntinlupa residents storm city hall for cash aid

Several residents of Muntinlupa went to the City Hall on Tuesday to ask the government for cash aid.

In Katrina Son's report for "24 Oras," the residents said have not yet received their Social Amelioration Program (SAP) subsidy.

According to them, their respective barangays told them to go to the City Hall. Some of them walked for hours and others could not help but turn emotional when they arrived.

"Siguraduhin po nila na makakatulong sila. Kasi 'yung mga anak ko po, mamamatay na, walang tumutulong," said Emerson Lopez. "Wag nyo naman pong itulak 'yung mga tao na gumawa ng masama para lang po kumita sila at may ipakain sa pamilya."

READ: DILG to LGUs: Fasttrack SAP distribution as some families haven't received aid yet

Two women were in tears as they appealed for help for their children, while a 70-year-old man also risked going outside to go to the City Hall.

"Kasi wala, ang alam ko 'yung iba nabigyan na ako hindi pa nabigyan," said Alfredo Marigundun.

Tess Navarro, Chief of the Public Information Office, told the residents that the information they got from the barangays were wrong.

"Tapos na po 'yung bayaran pero babalik po 'yung pera n'yo, bibigay po 'yun sa schedule ng barangay. Hindi dapat dito," she said. "Ang pondo, hanggat may pondo, ibibigay sa inyo. Wag kayong mag alala."

Meanwhile, other residents went to their barangay halls on behalf of their neighbors to ask for aid.

In Brgy. Putatan, Leo Pelaez, the president of an informal settler family community, said that he already talked to Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) but he was told to go the barangay instead.

Arthur Cagadas, a Technical Admin Staff, told Pelaez that the release of subsidy involves coordination with the city government.

"Wala pong pakialam ang Barangay Putatan diyan. Kasi ang papel ng SAP, national 'yan eh, trabaho ng DSWD," he said. "Ang pinarating sa aming barangay, Sunday is the last day of processing. Kaya tumigil kami."

The Department of Interior and Local Government said May 10, Sunday, was the deadline of nationwide distribution for the SAP cash aid.

According to the DSWD, 958 of 1,528 LGUs completed cash aid distribution on deadline. —MGP, GMA News