THE Bacolod City Council approved a resolution requesting the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to fast track the release of the remaining second tranche for the more or less 20,000 Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries and former Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) dependents in Bacolod City.
The resolution, authored by Councilor Simplicia Distrito, was approved during the regular session of the City Council on Wednesday, September 16, 2020.
Distrito earlier said most SAP beneficiaries have already received the second tranche of the assistance, either during the payouts in the barangays or through digital payout stores.
"Despite the same, more or less 20,000 beneficiaries are not yet able to receive such financial assistance and were advised by the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) to inquire from their respective barangay halls for the claiming schedules," she said.
On September 7, the National Inter-Agency Task Force (NIATF) issued Resolution No. 69-A that placed the City of Bacolod under modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) from September 8 to 30 due to the increase of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases. Mayor Evelio Leonardia also issued Executive Order No.60 pursuant to the resolution.
Distrito said the declaration of the MECQ in the city worried those who have yet to receive the assistance if and when it will be released considering that they badly need the money for their sustenance.
She said most of them even aired their sentiments to their employees and even to some members of the City Council who also rely on the information given by the DSSD regional office.
"It has been observed that most of these beneficiaries waiting for the release of such assistance are among the poorest of the poor, unemployed and marginalized who already suffered so much during the pandemic. Thus, this august body appeals to the DSWD regional office to possibly fast track the releasing of the SAP to help them," she added.