THE City Government of Baguio will start releasing the social amelioration cash assistance to deserving recipients considered as the most vulnerable, affected by the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Baguio City Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan said the City Council is looking at legislative actions to speed up the release of the cash assistance.
“We would like to inform the public that the social amelioration is a support from the national government which is aside from the goods that they distribute because as defined, it is in a form of cash. In the City of Baguio, we are coming up with a resolution authorizing Mayor Benjamin Magalong to enter into a memorandum of agreement with DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) so that the funds intended for the City of Baguio will be transferred to the local government unit,” Olowan said.
The measure, according to the vice-mayor will allow the local government to be the distributor of the cash assistance based on information and data gathered.
Olowan said although an identified family may have received initial goods, they can still be recipients of cash aid.
The Congress recently confirmed the release of the social amelioration cash assistance to vulnerable sectors of society such as persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant mothers, homeless persons, 4 P’s beneficiaries and workers in the informal sectors.
The move is in accordance with the newly signed law, Republic Act 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, which seeks to address the threats and impact of Covid–19 in the country.
“Based on the law that we passed, 18 million households is being targeted by the said law as recipients of the social amelioration cash cards with qualified recipients instructed to fill up a form for them to be registered. For the Cordillera Region, a confirmed household is set to receive around P5,500 each,” Olowan added.
DSWD has been tasked to distribute social amelioration cards in preparation for the distribution of cash assistance in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, with confirmed families to receive cash aid amounting between P5,000 to P8,000.
Those who want to avail of the financial aid must fill out and submit the social amelioration card to be included in the local government’s list of beneficiaries.
According to the department, the card records the family profile and is supposed to be filled out by the head of the family. It contains details such as the number of individuals in the household, his or her occupation and average income.
The social amelioration card will be the basis of the government in providing the necessary assistance, aside from serving as proof that a beneficiary has received the cash aid from the LGU once released.
DSWD is still in the process of coordinating with LGUs on the schedule of submission of the list of beneficiaries and the distribution of cash aid.
DSWD will also give away food packs for families affected by the Covid-19 crisis, which will be coursed through LGUs.