Over 300 Baguio families get financial aid through DSWD

By Pamela Mariz Geminiano 

BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has released, through the city government, the social amelioration program (SAP) financial assistance to 336 families from 10 villages, the city public information said on Thursday evening.

Aileen Refuerzo, city chief information officer, said the government has released PHP1,774,500 on Wednesday and Thursday to beneficiaries in the 10 barangays.

Four barangays were completed on Wednesday and six more on Thursday.

Refuerzo said the release of the subsidy is being distributed as the beneficiaries are validated and their documents processed by volunteers and personnel of the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development (OCSWD).

The city government is taking steps to further speed up the process of validating beneficiaries to facilitate the release of the subsidy.

Around 200 city hall employees from different departments were tasked to help in the validation, fast-track the process, and immediately release the government's financial aid.

OCSWD chief Betty Fangasan said they also communicated with the Barangay Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs) and barangay officials to organize teachers and volunteers in their areas to help in the process.

Fangasan said that those assigned in the validation have been reporting for work, continuing with the validation to expedite the program.

"This will be our form of penitence for the Holy Week," said Mayor Benjamin Magalong, who will also be on hand to supervise the implementation of all control and prevention measures against the coronavirus disease during the Lenten season. (PNA)