MANILA- The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) appealed on Wednesday for understanding for its social workers distributing cash aid to poor families in light of reported threats.

Some social workers were receiving verbal attacks due to problems hounding the distribution of cash aid for poor families as the coronavirus crisis persists, DSWD Undersecretary Rene Paje said.

"Kami po ay nakikiusap sa ating mga kababayan na huwag magalit, kundi ay bigyan ng tiwala at pang-unawa ang ating mga frontliners na ang nais lamang ay maipahatid ang mga benepisyo ng SAP (social amelioration program) sa mga nangangailangan," he said in a virtual press briefing.

(We are appealing to our fellow countrymen not to get mad. Have patience and understand that our frontliners only want to bring the benefits of SAP to those who need it.)

Paje said the DSWD is already in coordination with the military, and the police to help social workers facing threats. He also appealed to social workers to be more patient with beneficiaries of the cash aid program.

"Sa mga frontliners naman natin, ganun din po ang aming hinihingi, ang pang-unawa at haba ng pasensya sa mga beneficiaries natin," he said.

(To our frontliners, we are asking the same. Please extend your understanding and patience to our beneficiaries.)

The government has allotted a P200-billion budget to provide cash subsidies to 18 million poor families for 2 months to help them cope with the pandemic.

Among those entitled to the cash aid are the elderly, homeless Filipinos, pregnant women, indigents, “no work, no pay” workers, and families that belong to the marginalized sectors

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