DSWD urged to simplify processes in distribution of Covid-19 aid

Repost by Becky D. de Asis/The Redline News

By Filane Mikee Cervantes  

MANILA – Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Friday urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to simplify the processes and guidelines for the distribution of the social amelioration program to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

In a virtual press briefing, Cayetano said the current guidelines for the distribution of the government's emergency cash subsidy for the 18 million low-income families are too complicated, which could hamper the delivery to about 10 to 15 days.

"We got the guidelines. Ang nakita namin, napakahaba ng proseso (What we saw is that the process is too long). And also, medyo maraming safeguards, maraming levels ng validation (there are a lot of safeguards, as well as levels of validation)," Cayetano said.

"In effect, it would take them 10-15 days bago makuha yung kanilang PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 (before they could receive their PHP5,000 to PHP8,000)," he added.

Under the current guidelines, the local government units (LGUs) will prepare the list of the target beneficiaries of the social amelioration measures and endorse this with the complete documentary requirements to the concerned DSWD Field Offices for verification.

A Social Amelioration Card (SAC) that captures the family profile will be distributed to the LGUs to enable the beneficiaries to access the assistance. It will also serve as a monitoring tool to avoid duplication of delivery of services.

Cayetano said the several levels of validation could be simplified into just a single process since it would take time to produce the pertinent documents to avail of the financial aid.

"Yung hiningi namin na general principle (The general principle that we are asking for) is how to get the resources in the fastest possible way to all the 18 million Filipinos with the least regulations and guidelines," he said.

He suggested a counterproposal which only involves four steps: 1) the DSWD enters a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with LGUs; 2) the LGU team identifies and validates beneficiaries; 3) the LGU distributes the payout, and 4) the LGU liquidates.

He also stressed that the social amelioration card forms should be simplified. "Yung forms na nilabas nila napaka-complicated (The forms that they released are too complicated). It would take time to finish those forms."

Under Republic Act (RA) No. 11469 or the “Bayanihan to Heal as One” Act, 18 million low-income households, including 4Ps household beneficiaries, are expected to receive emergency cash assistance to cushion the impact of the public health emergency due to the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released PHP100 billion to the DSWD to cover the funding requirements for the social amelioration programs.

Specifically, the released amount shall be used for the protective services for individuals and families especially in difficult circumstances, or assistance to individuals in crisis situations, and shall be extended to the target low-income household beneficiaries in the form of cash. (PNA)- Posted by Becky D. de Asis/The Redline News