San Jose Del Monte City—“There is no favoritism or any political agenda in the distribution of the government’s cash assistance under Social Amelioration Program being implemented by the city government.”
This was the unequivocal response of City Mayor Arthur Robes to a barangay official who denounced the city government and city Social Welfare and Development Officer Marilyn Cumba for alleged irregularity in the evaluation of families and household who are qualified to receive the P6,500 SAP-cash.
Robes said that as of Thursday, the joint DSWD and City’s Task Force COVID headed by Asst. City Administrator lawyer Rhizaldy Mendoza finished distributing the cash relief to some 7,740 households in seven out of the 59 barangays of the city, including Brgy. St. Martin de Porres headed by Brgy. Capt. Susan Estipona complained to a TV network.
Some P434 million covering 66,816 beneficiaries will receive the P6,500 cash which is expected to be completed by April 25. The city has some 150,000 households and existing 14,200 families under the 4Ps program of the government.
Robes said the Sanggunian Panlungsod has already approved last Thursday the release of an additional P117 million to cover the relief assistance to the 56% (percent) of the households who were not included in the SAP.
Meanwhile, Bulacan Mayor’s League president Mayor Ambrosio ‘Boy’ Cruz of Guiguinto joined Mayor Robes in calling for the posting of names of all 4Ps beneficiaries in the bulletin boards of barangay halls where they reside.
Cruz said the public posting of 4Ps cash recipients in not only consistent with the transparency of the government’s Pantawid sa Pamilyang Pilipino Program but will also enable residents to check and verify whether the beneficiaries are really poorest of the poor and deserve the cash assistance.
Robes said they have received mounting complaints including social media posts that some of the 4Ps grantees are just using their cash to gamble and to satisfy their drinking habits.