KORONADAL CITY— The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office XII (DSWD FO XII) continued releasing the financial assistance for thousands of qualified waitlisted recipients in remote areas under the agency’s Social Amelioration Program.

This was announced Sunday by Cezario Joel Espejo, DSWD-12 regional director, who said that around 144, 364 families severely affected by the economic effects brought by the COVID-19 pandemic but were not able to receive the emergency subsidy assistance will be covered by the payouts.

Noting the lists were based on the submitted recommendations from local government units (LGUs) that were verified by the DSWD, Dir. Espejo said most of the recipients were located in the region’s Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas GIDA).

Since the start of distribution two weeks ago, the DSWD already provided over 93 million pesos to 18,719 families.

The cash aid was in line with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to include 5 million more low-income families who were left out in the distribution while parts of the country were still under modified enhanced community quarantine.

“Technically, we have no 2nd tranche. Those included in our left-out were qualified residents but were not able to receive the assistance,” Dir. Espejo said. 

Dir. Espejo said the region completed the first tranche of distribution, saying 50 LGUs completed their payout and submitted their liquidations.

“We adhere to the guidelines stipulated in the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2, S. of 2020 where the police and military will help in the distribution by providing security to our workers on the ground,” Dir. Espejo said.

“With the help of our partners, we hope to finish the payouts as soon as possible,” he added. (JBM / DSWD)