75% of beneficiaries already received cash aid, says DILG spox

Interior and Local Government spokesperson Assistant Secretary Jonathan Malaya on Tuesday said 75% of the beneficiaries of the government's social amelioration program across the country have already received their cash aid.

"Pangkalahatan po, 75% na sa buong bansa ang nakatanggap ng kanilang social amelioration program. Ibig pong sabihin for every ten families, almost eight families na po ang nakakatanggap nito," Malaya said in a radio interview.

He said the data was as of 9 p.m. on Monday.

Malaya also bared data about some areas in Metro Manila and the status of their cash aid distribution:

•     Caloocan - 86.82%
•     Manila - 62.17%
•     Marikina - 67.72%
•     Parañaque - 53.54%
•     Pasig - 77.04%

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•     Valenzuela - 60%

He said CARAGA region has already covered 99.01% of the cash assistance beneficiaries.

The DILG official reminded local government units to fasttrack the distribution of aid which was extended only until May 7.

"Tumutulong na po kami sa DSWD para pukpukin 'yung mga LGUs na naaantala ang pamimigay," Malaya said.

Around 18 million low-income families were targeted to receive monthly cash subsidies ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 for two months as mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act 11469).

Local government officials were initially given until April 30 to distribute the cash aid for qualified beneficiaries, however, some localities had failed to meet the deadline.

Meanwhile, Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said he would no longer extend the SAP aid distribution beyond the May 7 deadline.

"Kailangan tapusin nila 'yan, kasi ayoko ko na ring mag-extend, dapat matapos nila 'yan, kung kailangang hindi sila matulog, wag muna silang matulog.," Año told reporters.

"This is really a very tall order ha, first time ito na ginawa... wala pang gobyerno ang gumawa ng ganitong social amelioration," he added.

— with Anna Felicia Bajo/AOL/RSJ, GMA News