The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office V reports 100% release of its funds for the implementation of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) for Non-Pantawid targets to all the local government units in the Bicol Region.

As of April 8, 2020, all 114 LGUs have been downloaded their SAP funds amounting to Php3,861,435,000.00 and is now ready for distribution.

The Social Amelioration Program (SAP) of DSWD FOV is in the form of emergency cash subsidy intended for the poorest of the poor families affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in the Bicol Region. These are the families that belong to either the poor or the informal sector which are at risk of not earning a living during this crisis who may have at least one member belonging to any of the vulnerable or disadvantaged sectors such as senior citizens, persons with disability, pregnant and lactating women, solo parents, overseas Filipinos in distress, indigent indigenous peoples, underprivileged sector and homeless citizens, and informal economy workers.

The “Bayanihan to Heal As One” Act empowers the National Government to provide an emergency subsidy to 18 million low-income families as defined in this JMC. The subsidy shall amount to a minimum of Five Thousand Pesos (PhP 5,000.00) to a minimum of Eight Thousand Pesos (PhP 8,000.00) a month for two (2) months to provide for basic food, medicine, and toiletries. The subsidy shall be computed based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rates and the existing subsidy programs of the local and national governments.

For Bicol Region, the emergency cash subsidy to be given to the 772,287 Non-Pantawid poor families inclusive of the UCT under Listahanan 2.0, is Php5,000.00 per month for two months (April and May).

The 315,544 of the 374,627 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) who have cash cards started receiving their cash subsidies under SAP last April 3, 2020 at Php3,650.00 each in addition to their rice subsidy of Php 600.00 and health grant of 750.00 for April.

Those Pantawid beneficiaries with no cash cards yet will be scheduled for over-the-counter withdrawal still being negotiated with the Landbank of the Philippine (LBP).

The joint memorandum circular (JMC) entered into by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is in coordination and collaboration with other national government agencies such as, but not limited to, Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Finance (DOF), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG). These agencies shall implement social protection programs, projects, and services to mitigate the effects of the declaration on the economic, physical and psychosocial well-being of the most vulnerable sectors.

DSWD to LBP and LGUs

DSWD thanks Landbank of the Philippines Legazpi City Branch headed by Mr. Cesar A. Ramirez for facilitating the processing of the fund transfer of funds to the LGUs through bank transfer despite their shortened work hours.

“Ang DSWD din po ay nagpapasalamat sa mga LGUs sa inyong kooperasyon at partisipasyon sa programang ito. Inaasahan po namin na gagawin ninyo ang lahat upang maging maayos at mabilis ang pagpapaabot ng tulong pinansyal na ito sa ating mga mamamyan na lubos na nangangailangan ngayong panahon ng krisis.” DSWD FOV Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia said as part of his message to the LGUs which the agency deputized to expedite the distribution of the cash assistance.