Go to LGUs: Solve issues on SAP distribution

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go has called on concerned national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to work together to resolve issues on conflicting lists of beneficiaries and improve the system of distributing the government’s social amelioration program among Filipinos most affected by the coronavirus disease 2019  (COVID-19) outbreak.

“I am appealing to all concerned agencies and LGUs that they should aim to perfect the distribution system of food and cash assistance as the government continues to address the COVID-19 situation,” Go said on Wednesday.

“If we see problem, let’s fix it at once. Let’s make sure funds are enough, not wasted and delivered to those even in far-flung areas,” he said.

He maintained that LGUs must work hand-in-hand with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its local offices,  in resolving  discrepancies.

“It’s the LGUs which know the actual situation in their jurisdictions and it’s the DSWD’s task to ensure distribution is fair and equitable, especially among the most in need,” he said.

Go emphasized that according to DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, the DSWD is providing cash assistance to four million 4Ps beneficiaries considered as the poorest of the poor. Distribution for identified beneficiaries belonging to the vulnerable and informal sectors is also ongoing.

“I’m urging LGUs and ordinary Filipinos to report at once to the DSWD any discrepancy in data,” the senator said.

A list of families left out of the official data should be submitted to the DSWD for validation. If validated, the list would be submitted to Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF).

In Manila alone, the government is conducting a pilot implementation of the “ReliefAgad” system. If successful, DSWD will use the system for the second tranche of the emergency subsidy distribution.

“Our priority now is to give assistance to the poorest. Those not among the 18 million families entitled to emergency cash subsidies may avail of other government programs aimed at helping other affected citizens,” Go said.

Starting from the poorest of the poor, around 18 million Filipino family-beneficiaries are receiving assistance from the DSWD for two months under the SAP.