BACOLOD City – This city’s Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD) temporarily suspended starting yesterday the digital releasing of cash aid to more than 15,000 “left out” beneficiaries of the national government’s social amelioration program (SAP).
“The digital payout was suspended following the exposure of 10 DSSD and 10 DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) employees to a patient positive for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19),” says DSSD head Pacita Tero.
These employees – in-charge of the digital releasing of cash aid – are now quarantined in their homes after undergoing swab testing, she added.
According to Tero, the DSSD and DSWD personnel also came into contact with an employee of the Office of the Senior Citizen Affairs who tested positive for COVID-19 during the SAP payout last week,
A wife of a DSSD staff also tested positive for the virus, she added.
Tero said this city has a budget of P180.5 for left out recipients. Each of these beneficiaries will receive a lump sum of P12,000 to cover the P6,000 they failed acquire during the SAP first tranche.
The digital distribution of cash assistance to left out beneficiaries will be through payout centers such as MLhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier and Universal Storefront Services Corporation – all accredited by financial service provider Starpay Corporation.
This city has received a total of P1.3 billion is SAP assistance.
Figures released by the city government showed that the first tranche amounting to P588.9 million was distributed to 98,143 residents. The second tranche, on the other hand, is expected to benefit 97,266 beneficiaries./PN
