P75B from P80-B aid fund given to 13M of 18M beneficiaries —DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development on Thursday reported that over P75 billion from the over P80-billion fund for the Social Amelioration Program in response to COVID-19 emergency has been distributed to to target beneficiaries.

In a press briefing, DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje said the P75 billion was already in the hands of the 13 million out of the 18 million target beneficiaries, as of Wednesday.

“Sa pangkalahatan, umabot na sa mahigit P75.2 billion ang naipamahagi na sa 13.6 million na mga benepisyaryo sa ating SAP,” Paje said.

According to him, 637 out of the 1,632 local government units (LGUs) already finished the distribution  of the emergency cash subsidy in their respective areas.

The rest of the LGUs were given another three days to finish the distribution, after Interior Secretary Eduardo Año again extended the deadline to May 10, Sunday.

At least 58 LGUs completed their liquidation report on their aid distribution efforts, Paje said. This means they can already receive a budget for the second tranche of the cash assistance distribution.

Paje said LGUs have distributed P58.1 billion in aid to 9.8 million households not on the list of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries.

Around P16.3 billion was handed over to 3.7 million 4Ps beneficiaries holding cash cards, while P492.3 million worth of aid was given to 126,330 non-cash card holders, he added.

Also, P323 million were distributed to 40,418 transportation network vehicle service (TNVS) and public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.

The program aims to distribute cash aid of up to P16, 000 to 18 million low-income families nationwide in two months with a budget of P200 billion. —Joviland Rita/LBG, GMA News