DEPARTMENT of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año said on Thursday, May 7, that he is giving local government units in Metro Manila another extension until May 10 to complete the distribution of financial assistance from the social amelioration program (SAP).
"For Metro Manila, I'll be extending the deadline up to May 10. For some other areas it depends on their efforts," he said in a television interview.
"Metro Manila is a populous region. We have to give them some additional days," he added.
The DILG earlier set the deadline for the distribution of the first tranche of SAP on April 30. This was extended to May 4 for provincial LGUs and to May 7 for the National Capital Region.
He said most of those that finished the distribution are provincial LGUs.
Año said as of 8 p.m. of Wednesday, 985 out of 1,654 local government units or 77.51 percent have already completed the distribution of SAP cash assistance.
According to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), as of 8 p.m. of May 5, 13 million families have already received the cash subsidy of P5,000 to P8,000 to help provide basic needs during the enhanced community quarantine.
Of the P100 billion allotted for the program, P71.40 billion has been distributed to the beneficiaries.
Año said he has instructed the PNP to exempt those distributing and claiming the cash aid from curfew.
"We are now working 24/7. In fact, I have given instruction to the PNP to exempt all citizens who are going to distribution points to be exempted from curfew because all our LGUs are working all the time," Año said.
Through the SAP, around 18 million low-income families are targeted to receive cash subsidy ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 for the months of April and May. (SunStar Philippines)