Duterte asked to include brgy. captains, councilors as cash aid beneficiaries

The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) on Wednesday appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte to include barangay captains and councilors as beneficiaries for the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

Interviewed on Dobol B sa News TV, Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr., the league's president, said these local officials are qualified under the new memorandum of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

However, Velasco said they are not included in the 5 million “waitlisted” and “left out” beneficiaries.

“Hinihiling po natin kay Pangulong Duterte na isama po ito at ipasok naman po ito doon sa Memorandum Circular No. 14 ng DSWD,” Velasco said.

Citing the memorandum, Velasco said government personnel are allowed to receive cash assistance under the program if they only receive an allowance that is lower than the maximum amount of the subsidy for their work.

Moreover, Velasco said the memorandum makes those who are not under the Salary Standardization Law qualified for the cash subsidy.

“Kailangan pong klaruhin talaga ng DSWD,” Velasco added.

Payout for the second tranche of the program is set to start on Wednesday in Benguet in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

Under SAP, low-income families will be given cash assistance of P5,000 to P8,000 per month for two months to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

The program had a budget of over P200 billion. --Joviland Rita/KBK, GMA News