The League of Provinces of the Philippines (LPP) appealed to President Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday to also include the barangay captains and councilors as beneficiaries for the cash aid of Social Amelioration Program (SAP).

Based on the interview of league’s president Marinduque Governor Presbitero Velasco Jr. on Dobol B sa News TV, local officials are qualified under the new memorandum of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

However, they are not included in the 5 million. According to Velasco they are “waitlisted” and “left out” beneficiaries.

“Hinihiling po natin kay Pangulong Duterte na isama po ito at ipasok naman po ito doon sa Memorandum Circular No. 14 ng DSWD,” he said.

Referring to the memorandum, Velasco said government personnel are allowed to receive cash assistance under the program, if they only receive an allowance that is lower than the maximum amount of the subsidy for their work, as of GMA report.

Furthermore, the memorandum will make those who are not under the Salary Standardization Law, be qualified for the cash subsidy.

“Kailangan pong klaruhin talaga ng DSWD,” Velasco added.

Moreover, the second tranche payout program in Benguet in the Cordillera Administrative Region is set to start on Wednesday.

Those who are under SAP, the low-income families will be given cash assistance of P5,000 to P8,000 per month for two months to help them recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The SAP program had a budget of over P200 billion.

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