Talisay creates own cash aid program

CEBU, Philippines —  The City of Talisay has set aside P30 million for its own cash aid program for those who got disqualified in the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)’s social amelioration program(SAP), while each household, regardless of status, will get a sack of rice each next month.

Since the start of the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), the Talisay City government already distributed relief goods, with the poorest of the poor as its top priority until the end of this month.

The city has estimated to be distributing a total of 245,000 relief packs which include rice, sardines, and noodles, among others.

With the extension of the ECQ, Mayor Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas has announced they will be giving each household, including those in the subdivisions, a 25-kilo sack of rice.

“This May, the city will purchase 80,000 sacks of rice at 25 kgs. This will be distributed to all households in the city, including subdivisions,” said Gullas.

Delivery will be during the first week of May, where barangay personnel will distribute it house-to-house.

Talisay has also come up with its own amelioration program or C-TAP with a budget of P30 million, after many Talisaynons who are also in need failed to meet the guidelines set by DSWD.

“Strict sad kaau ilang (DSWD) guidelines.  For example kani, if mo-sobra ug P10,000 imong income, dili ka makadawat sa SAP. So daghan ni complain,” said Gullas in his official page.

Gullas said, under DSWD’s SAP, only 29,000 families will benefit from it, aside from the beneficiaries of 4Ps and part of the unconditional cash transfer (UCT) program.

The C-TAP is meant to prioritize those families whose livelihood have also been affected with the ECQ but was not able to receive anything from DSWD’s SAP.

Gullas, however, stressed that the C-TAP will not give the same amount as that from the DSWD.

The 30,000 targeted beneficiaries will only receive P1,000 each.

The City government will be working on the C-TAP right after the distribution of SAP.

Those who are eligible to avail the C-TAP include families whose income is P20,000 and below, not recipients of  the Emergency Subsidy Program under Social Amelioration Program and non-UCT and 4Ps beneficiaries and those who are in “no work, no pay” employment status.

A form will have to be accomplished along with the barangay certification of the applicant’s employment status and a valid ID.  GAN (FREEMAN)