"THE barangay officials can stop the distribution of cash assistance if the beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) are not following the social distancing and wearing of face masks."
This was stressed by City Administrator Em Ang Friday, July 24, 2020, after some of the SAP beneficiaries in Bacolod City were seen not following the health protocols in some barangays.
Ang said the barangay officials can stop the SAP distribution if the public health and public health are at risk.
She said that even the Department of Social Welfare and Development DSWD) can stop the distribution if the SAP beneficiaries are not disciplined.
"Our tellers also have their set of protocols for the distribution of cash assistance and during our meetings, the barangay officials were also reminded to follow the health protocols," she added.
Ang noted the barangay officials should assist and supervise the cash distribution so that minimum health standards are observed strictly. They should also put a special lane for senior citizens, pregnant women and persons with disability beneficiaries.
On Thursday, an 87-year-old SAP beneficiary in Barangay Villamonte died while waiting for her turn to claim her cash assistance.
The fatality was identified as Aurelia Magbanua of Purok Sabes, Barangay Villamonte.
Ang said as of Friday, they do not have an official record on the cause of death of the victim.
"Our SAP beneficiaries should check and wait for their schedule to claim their cash assistance, we should observe the social distancing and wearing of face mask. Let's cooperate to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease (Covid-19)," she said.
The Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) has released the second tranche of cash assistance under the SAP of the government in some barangays on Thursday.
Bacolod City has more than 75,000 SAP beneficiaries and each beneficiary will receive P6,000.
The cash grant distribution was led by the DSSD, DSWD, City Treasurer’s Office, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, and the Bacolod City Police Office.
Pacita Tero, head of DSSD-Bacolod, said the cash grant will be distributed per barangay and the barangays are required to provide one venue per 1,000 SAP beneficiaries.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia is also upbeat that the P1.3 billion public fund infusion through the SAP of the national government will pump-prime the local economy even amid the Covid-19 crisis.
After an initial release of P588.9 million for 98,143 families, a second tranche is now being distributed to all barangays.
“This is a tremendous help to our people at a time when our economy is feeling the effects of this health crisis and this will go a long, long way in helping needy families,” Leonardia said.