DSWD, DICT launch ‘ReliefAgad’ app to improve cash aid distribution

The Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Information and Communications Technology rolled out on Thursday a mobile application aimed at expediting the distribution of the social amelioration program subsidy.

DSWD undersecretary Danilo Pamonag said in a virtual press conference that the “ReliefAgad” app will make the disbursement of cash subsidies “more efficient” by allowing beneficiaries to self-register and receive automated payments.

“‘ReliefAgad’ is a quick relief system that enables the DSWD and the local government units to expedite the capture of social amelioration card details and interface with any electronic payment system for faster cash relief to targeted beneficiaries,” Pamonag said.

"[It] uses a combination of crowdsourcing and manual encoding or batch uploading by LGUs. Through the application, beneficiaries can register and send their social amelioration card details to their LGU and DSWD."

Pamonag clarified that getting the "ReliefAgad" app is not mandatory. Beneficiaries without a mobile phone can still avail of the cash subsidy through their respective LGUs.

"Mapapakinabangan po ito sa ating mga benepisiyaryo na may mga smartphones. Mababawasan ang mano-manong pag-encode gamit ang pisikal na copya at mababawasan ang oras sa pagpapatunay ng mga kwalipikadong beneficiaries bago maipamahagi ang ayuda," he said.

The DICT said it provided technical assistance to DSWD to ensure cybersecurity for beneficiaries who will self-register using the application.

The DSWD and the DICT partnered with non-profit organization Developers Connect Philippines (DEVCON) and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the creation of the app.

Around 18 million low-income households and those in the informal sector will be targeted to receive monthly cash subsidies amounting to P5,000 to P8,000 for two months as mandated by the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act 11469).

Earlier, President Rodrigo Duterte approved the recommendation of the government’s COVID-19 task force to add five million low-income families to the beneficiaries of the emergency subsidy program.

A total of 1,107 out of 1,634 LGUs nationwide were able to complete the distribution of the first tranche of the cash aid, the DSWD said, of which 139 have already submitted their complete liquidation reports. — Ma. Angelica Garcia/BM, GMA News