Bacolod City, Iloilo included in second round of SAP aid

By Jennifer P. Rendon 

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-6 confirmed the start of the distribution of the government’s second tranche of the government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

But not all areas of Western Visayas will be entitled to receive the second tranche of SAP aid.

The qualified areas include those that are still under the Enhanced Community Quarantine for the period May 1 to 15, 2020, based on the recommendations of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) Resolution as stipulated in Executive Order 112.

The qualified beneficiaries also include those from Iloilo (including Iloilo City) and Bacolod City.

On Friday, the DSWD-6 announced that beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in Iloilo province and cities of Iloilo and Bacolod can now withdraw their second tranche of SAP cash grant through their cash cards.

In Region 6, a total of 104,027 4Ps household beneficiaries automatically received their emergency subsidy Friday afternoon.

Aside from 4Ps beneficiaries, SAP, as provided under RA 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, is given to low-income households.

The first tranche was given last April 3 in the region.

Each household grantee received an emergency subsidy of P4,650, a top-up on their monthly cash grants for health (P750) and rice subsidy (P600), hence completing the P6,000 SAP package.

For the second tranche, which covers the month of May, each beneficiary will again receive the same top-up amount in their cash grants for health and rice subsidy.

DSWD-6 said the amount that each household receives is based on the prescribed emergency subsidy per region determined from the region’s minimum wage levels as these are close approximations to the amount needed to buy basic food, medicine, and hygiene essentials.

The 4Ps beneficiaries may withdraw it through their Euro Master Visa (EMV) cards or may use them at the grocery stores, supermarkets, and drugstores with Point of Sale (POS) terminal.