CITY administrator Teodoro Sabuga-a, Jr. announced today that the distribution of the cash aid under the social amelioration program has started yesterday and will continue today.
During the daily press briefing at the city hall this morning, Sabuga-a said they started the distribution in the city's hinterland barangays.
He said they will start at Barangay 40 today with the rest of the urban barangays to follow.
"Pinaka dugay nga nagstart is 8:30 (am). Atong target nga mahuman nato ni sa 5 pm. Ang atong gi-utilize nga venue kay mga schools arun dako ang area arun ma maintain ang social distancing. Proactive 'ta. Naay mosita nga kung wala ka sa lista, ipauli," Sabuga-a said.
He said they target 4,981 poor households in the city and that they have already distributed 3,816 families since yesterday.
Sabuga-a added that they identified 1,165 heads of families who should not be included in the cash aid because they are already enrolled in the Department of Social Welfare and Development's Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, non-residents of the barangay, and those who died already.
He said the list of beneficiaries is based on DSWD's latest poverty survey.
"Ang margin of error sa lista kay dako gyud kaayo. Kini nga data is only good for five years. Imbis naka schedule na og new poverty survey ang DSWD adtong Enero pero wala madayon kay miabot na man dayon ang Covid-19 outbreak. Mao ra man pud ang available data nato," Sabuga-a explained why some who are already dead are still included in the list.
Sabuga-a said the slots of the 1,165 listed as 4Ps beneficiaries, non-residents, and dead will be given to those who have been wait-listed by the DSWD.
"Pag abot sa weekend nga dili pa ma claim, opportunity kini sa mga wait-listed. Dili na kinahanglan muadto sa barangay hall. Naay existing nga lista sa DSWD," he said.
He urged the beneficiaries of the cash aid to be patient and to trust their barangay officials.
"Salig lang mo sa inyong barangay officials. Kini nga hinabang para man sa mga poorest of the poor. Kaila ang mga taga-barangay kinsa na sila. Ang validation tanan niini didto sa DSWD kay economic standing man ang gibasehan, kanang naa sa poverty threshold," Sabuga-a said adding that there is "second wave" of the cash aid which will be based on the families enrolled in DSWD's Disaster Assistance Family Access Card.
Sabuga-a enjoined beneficiaries who need clarifications on the cash aid program to call or text the City Social Welfare and Development hotline 09268773981.
For his part, Staff M/Sgt. Allen Tamayo, community affairs division representative of the police station in Lumbia, reminded the beneficiaries who will receive the cash aid to spend this only on essential items.
"Remind lang nako nga ayaw ninyo gamita ang ayuda nga kwarta sa pag sugal sama sa tong-its ug dili ipalit og ilimnon makahubog. Gamita ang kwarta nga ayuda para sa pagkaon nga maka sustiner sa inyong pamilya," Tamayo said. (Cong B. Corrales)
