Cash aid 1st tranche beneficiaries at 17.7M; payout hits P99.8B —DSWD

The Department of Social Welfare and Development wrapped up the first tranche of the cash distribution under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) with a total of P99.8 billion in payout.

In a press briefing on Thursday, DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag said that around 17.7 million beneficiaries received the up to P8,000 cash assistance.

"Tapos na ang implementasyon ng first tranche. Nakamit ang tinatawag na indicative number of target beneficiaries ng first tranche ng SAP,” Pamonag said.

“Sa pangkalahatan, umaabot sa higit P99.8 billion ang naipamahagi sa 17.7 million na mga benepisyaryo ng first tranche ng SAP,” he added.

Around P100 billion was allocated for the first tranche of the subsidy program, which aims to ease the financial impact of COVID-19 among affected families in the country.

The distribution of cash assistance under the second tranche already started with Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries on June 19, according to Pamonag.

“Umabot sa P6.7 billion ang halaga ng naipamahagi sa kanila,” he said.

Meanwhile the distribution for wait-listed beneficiaries already started in Baguio City and Kapangan in Benguet on June 16. The payout also began in Balaoan, La Union and Mabalacat, Pampanga.

The distribution is currently ongoing in Doña Remedios Trinidad in Bulacan, Pamonag said.

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

The program had a budget of over P200 billion. —LBG, GMA News