Davao City – Qualified beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) 2nd tranche in 38 barangays in Davao City started to receive notification sent thru text message informing them that their cash subsidy worth P6,000 is ready to be claimed at designated money transfer outlets.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assistant regional director for operations Merlinda Paragamac announced in yesterday’s One Davao Virtual Presser that the agency thru its partner licensed electric money issuer Starpay has started to accommodate and distribute the 2nd tranche of the SAP to a number of barangays in Davao City.
Paragamac said notified beneficiaries are expected to line up and claim their assistance at accredited partner outlets in Davao Region such as MLhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier, USSC, and Western Union.
“Kinahanglan ang tabang sa financial service provider sa pag apod-apod sa ayuda aron paspas, luwas, ug komportable ang pagdawat sa ayuda alang sa mga benepisyaryo” said Paragamac.
The DSWD XI also cited that a systematic plan for the pay-out is needed to prevent possible mass gathering that may result from the distribution. The government has also ensured that technology is utilized for a more efficient system.
The agency expects individuals, especially those who received the 1st tranche to complain for not receiving a text message. Paragamac clarified that after series of validation done by different government agencies, a number of individuals who receive duplicate government assistance were removed from the final list of the 2nd tranche subsidy.
The agency, however, assured those who are part of the clean or final list but were not notified thru text to go to the DSWD office or barangay office as the DSWD is provided by the Starpay with reference numbers which can be used by the beneficiaries to claim the cash subsidy. DSWD or barangay staff may facilitate and help the beneficiary in securing that reference number even if that person didn’t receive a notification message sent thru text.
“This reference number is a unique number assigned for a particular beneficiary. This is one of the requirements that they need to show upon claiming the money.”
The DSWD also considers those who fail to claim their subsidy on the schedule indicated in the text message if there is a valid reason. They can still claim it on a later date or if they are in another town or province, they can also claim it from another branch.
To claim the subsidy, the beneficiary should bring and show their Social Amelioration Card Form, valid ID, and beneficiary reference number. If there is no valid ID, the beneficiary may show a barangay certificate which is original, with ID photo, and birthdate. Those who lost their SAC form are advised to approach any DSWD staff assigned in a barangay and accomplish a new SAC form.
Beneficiaries who are sick, pregnant, with disability, and immune-compromised may authorize a representative to claim the subsidy. The representative must bring the SAC form of the beneficiary, authorization letter, valid ID of the representative and the beneficiary, and the reference number.
The DSWD XI targets to complete the distribution of the SAP 2nd tranche to its 419,000 beneficiaries by August 15, 2020. (Frances Mae Macapagat)
(Source: Philippine Information Agency)