Las Piñas locals seek gov't aid after mix up in beneficiaries list

Residents of J. Villanueva Street in Las Piñas City's Barangay Almanza Uno pleaded for government assistance given that qualified residents had yet to receive any kind aid.

According to the 2015 census, the area was home to over 30,000 families, but only 3,700 families were included in the master list of beneficiaries who qualified for the government's social amelioration program (SAP).

"Pumili sila ng mga lugar na parang ano, bibigyan ng mga ano, 'yung mga talagang nasa depressed area. Kahit mag-rally sila, wala naman tayong magagawa na roon kasi kung 'yun 'yung binigay sa'yo na budget," Almanza Uno Capitan Boni Ramos said in a report on GMA's "24 Oras Weekend" on Sunday.

Locals were dismayed by this as they claimed that they were qualified to receive assistance, but some were not included in the master list, while others had errors in their contact details.

According to fish vendor Andy Ramos, he was included in the list but there was a mix up in his address, which was why he was not able to receive the cash grant.

"'Yung dapat na para sakin, napunta sa iba. Eh 'yun lang po 'yung pinapangkain ko, anim po kami. Wala na po talaga kaming makain tapos naniningil pa 'yung bayad ng bahay," he said in the report.

"Hindi na naman niya po ipinasa 'yung listahan. For the second tranche, hindi na naman po kami makakasama," said Michelle Burias, another resident of the area.

"Tindera lang po ako dun sa kanto namin, nagkukutlong pero wala rin po akong kita. Tatlo ang anak ko. Eh saan ko po kukunin ang kinakain ng mga anak ko?" added Aloha Sesgundo, another resident of the area.

For its part, a representative of the government said that Villanueva Street was not included in the master list, but some 500 households in the community would be prioritized during the release of the second tranche of the SAP.

"Sa mga 'di makakatanggap sa first at second tranche ng SAP, umasa naman sila ng gagawa ako ng paraan para mabigyan ng ayuda ang nangangailangan ng tulong na manggagaling sa local government," said Las Pinas City Mayor Imelda Aguilar.  — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News