Charcoal Maker’s Family Receives Emergency Benefits under SAP

“Dako akong kalipay ug pasalamat sa Ginoo kay adunay gobyerno ug mga tawo nga andam motabang nako ug sa akong pamilya (I am happy and grateful to God that there is a government and people who are ready to help me and my family),” said Dario Genson, 55, who earns a living by making charcoal but has to temporarily stop because of the community quarantine due to Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19).

Aside from Dario’s family, the family of his younger brother, Dionesio Genson, 53, also received the emergency cash subsidy under SAP.

“Ang akong kwarta nga nadawat kay akong ipalit og bugas ug uban pang panginahanglanon ug ang sobra akong itigom kay wala pa ta kabalo asa kini kutob ang krisis (The money that I received will be used to purchase rice and other needs while the remaining amount will be saved because we do not know yet when will this crisis ends),” added Dario.

After receiving their emergency cash subsidy, they bought rice, viands like fish, vegetables, and spices from the mobile market installed in the barangay gymnasium.

The Genson brothers live in Barangay Triumfo, a mountainous area in Carmen, Cebu.

The two brothers’ families are among the 6,653 low-income families in Carmen, Cebu who receive aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). This subsidy is under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) Bayanihan Fund: Tulong Laban sa COVID-19.

As of April 22, 2020, a total 134,496 families have received the cash aid worth Php 6,000.00 equivalent to a total of Php 806,976,000.00. The Php 6,000.00 is based on the prevailing regional minimum wage rate which is Php 404.00.

The first payout in Central Visayas started on April 9, 2020 and it is now ongoing in the different cities and towns in the region.

The payouts are done through the Local Government Units (LGUs) with assistance from the DSWD, Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The Department is distributing the social amelioration programs (SAP) in outright cash over a period of two months starting this April and in May and will employ different modes of payment applicable to the situation that will ensure swift distribution.

Target beneficiaries of the SAP are low-income families or those on subsistence economy or workers in the informal economy, and with members belonging to the vulnerable sector, assessed to be the most affected by the declaration given their existing life situations or circumstances.

Beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are also included in the target beneficiaries.

The Department emphasized that the government wants to help all families affected by the crisis to receive the social amelioration programs but priority will be given to the poor and those at risk of not earning income during this quarantine period.