Four Palawan towns have been hailed as models of good practices in the implementation of the Special Amelioration Program (SAP) in their localities.
Busuanga, Cagayancillo, Linapacan, and Magsaysay have been included by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-MIMAROPA in the list of local government units (LGUs), achieving 80.71 percent accomplishment of SAP distribution in the region.
In a statement, DSWD-MIMAROPA said the four towns joined other LGUs that have completed the distribution of P5,000 emergency subsidy to all target beneficiaries.
Busuanga Mayor Elizabeth Cervantes also shared how the LGU handled complaints through an open forum held in barangays.
“We also put up a Municipal Task Force with three phone numbers to address grievances (raised by) our constituents,” she said.
As a municipality with island sitios within the locality, Cagayancillo chartered pump boats to reach family beneficiaries living on the islands.
“The LGU tapped the coastguard to assist us during the travel,” shared Mayor Sergio Tapalla.
The other LGUs are Abra de Ilog, Paluan, and Rizal in Occidental Mindoro; Baco, Bansud, Gloria, Pinamalayan, and San Teodoro in Oriental Mindoro; and Santa Maria in Romblon.
Meanwhile, even with a target of 12,734 families to be served, Pinamalayan LGU managed to finish the distribution of the emergency subsidy to the qualified beneficiaries on time.
Mayor Aristeo Baldos cited their strict compliance with the SAP guidelines since Day 1.
“The timetable was strictly followed. We have also tapped our teachers to assist during the payout, granted overtime pay to our Municipal Social Welfare and Development staff, as well as from different LGU departments,” he shared.
Mayor German Rodegerio of Gloria also attributed their LGU’s successful SAP implementation to the efforts of the barangay captains and LGU departments. According to him, a screening committee was put up consisting of the Municipal Accountant, Planning Officer, and other department heads to validate the initial list submitted by the barangays.
Moreover, nine groups composed of a department head, two staff, one Pantawid Pamilya staff, and two uniformed men facilitated the payouts which made the distribution faster and more efficient.
“For the families who were not qualified under SAP, the LGU used the Bayanihan Grant from the National Government to distribute PhP 1,500.00 worth of relief goods to the 6,000 families who were not qualified under SAP,” Said Mayor Rodegerio.
“I’d like to give credit to our constituents who were very cooperative and understanding,” said Baco local chief executive Reynaldo Marco.
He said that the cooperation of the public made it easier for the local government to implement the program. Mayor Marco also emphasized the close monitoring of volunteers during payout to ensure the smooth flow of the distribution.
The influx of complaints was inevitable and expected, because of this, LGU of Rizal, Occidental Mindoro set up a grievance redress system desk manned by staff from DSWD, MSDWO, and barangay to address these complaints. According to Mayor Sonny Pablo, to fast-track the payout, five tellers from the Municipal Treasurer’s Office were placed on each barangay.
As of writing, 335,952 family beneficiaries out of 416,246 have already received the emergency subsidy and the distribution for the remaining 80,294 families is expected to be done within the week.
