MORE than one million beneficiaries in Central Visayas are affected by the temporary suspension of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) programs and services.
According to DSWD Central Visayas spokesperson Leah Quintana, because majority of the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) already have cash cards, they wouldn’t be affected by the suspension.
DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito Bautista released a Department Advisory No. 1 on March 14, 2020 on “Guidelines for the prevention, control and mitigation of the spread of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).”
Included in the suspension are payouts scheduled on March 15 to April 14, 2020, the Social Pension on Indigent Senior Citizens and Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT).
The 4Ps program, which includes the Social Welfare and Development Indicator (SWDI), over-the-counter-payouts and distribution of cash cards were also canceled.
The social pension is done twice a year, while the 4Ps are distributed monthly and the UCT is received annually.
Quintana said that, due to a large number of payouts, it cannot be distributed immediately.
In Central Visayas alone, 276,318 are enrolled in 4Ps, of which 263,458 already have cash cards.
In Social Pension, there are 279,037 beneficiaries while the UCT has 495,435 beneficiaries.
Suspended events of DSWD include: Climate change adaptation and mitigation, off-site services, emergency shelter assistance, supplementary feeding program, sustainable livelihood program, poverty-comprehensive case-control, integrated delivery of social services and other service delivery assessments. (HBL / RSR)