San Juan Mayor vows cash aid to indigents excluded from SAP

At least 20,000 households to receive aid from San Juan gov't: Zamora

MANILA (UPDATE) - San Juan City Mayor Francis Zamora vowed Sunday to provide cash assistance to indigent families excluded from the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) social amelioration program (SAP).

"Sa mga San Juaneño households o kabahayan na pasok sa pamantayan ng DSWD ngunit hindi maisasama sa mabibigyan ng SAP, huwag po kayo mag-alala, may nakahanda pong ibang pondo. Zamora said in a statement.

However, Zamora said that the local government can only afford to dole out a portion of the amount specified under SAP.

"Hindi man ito kasing laki ng SAP, makatutulong pa din po ito sa inyo."

According to Zamora, the DSWD only identified 16,309 families-beneficiaries of the SAP, under which they are entitled to receive cash aid ranging from P5,000 to P8,000.

In an interview on DZMM, Zamora said the city's SAP allocation would not be enough for its population. As of 2015, the city has a total population of 122,000.

"Kung susumahin 'yun, talagang kulang itong 16,309 para sa aming total population," Zamora said.

Following the guidelines set by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Zamora said he decided to divide the total number of slots per barangay, depending on their respective population.

"'Yung 16,309 ay idinivide namin per barangay based on population...Yung mga barangay na hindi makakagamit ng slots, ire-redivide po namin," Zamora added.

Aside from the P130 million from the SAP, the city government will also be using its P25 million funds for its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program.

According to Zamora, they will be giving P5,370 to 4,655 households who were not able to receive aid from the SAP allocation.

The city will also be using its P20 million standby fund to provide aid to more households once the TUPAD funds are depleted.

"Yung mga hindi makakapasok dito sa social amelioration program na households pero qualified sila batay sa pamantayan ng DSWD, ipapasok natin dito sa P25 million na TUPAD, at lahat pa rin nang hindi makakapasok doon, dito naman natin ipapasok sa P20 million standby fund naman ng ating Public Assistance Center ng city hall," Zamora said, clarifying that the money they are using is different from the city's calamity fund, which it uses to buy food packs and hospital equipment.

"Kinakailangan talaga maging creative ka kung paano mo gagamitin ang pondong mayroon ka. Hindi mo rin naman puwedeng ubusin 'yan basta-basta dahil hindi puwedeng pagdating sa dulo eh mauubusan ka na ng pondo," Zamora also said.

As of Saturday, San Juan City has a total of 212 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Of this number, there are 35 deaths and 48 recoveries.

The government has allotted a P200-billion budget to provide subsidies to over 18 million 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.

The Philippine government on Friday extended until May 15 the enhanced community quarantine imposed in select parts of the country to combat the spread of coronavirus disease.