QC gov’t starts manual distribution of unclaimed SAP cash aid

The Quezon City government has started distributing the unclaimed financial aid from the second tranche of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Social Amelioration Program (SAP) to thousands of its residents tagged as “unserved beneficiaries.”

A total of 40,699 beneficiaries are set to receive their financial aid through the two-week manual payout at the Quezon Memorial Circle covered court, the local government said Wednesday.

The manual payout came after the previous distribution of the 2nd tranche through financial service partners such as Starpay and GCash encountered various challenges and left some residents unable to claim their assistance.

“Our citizens encountered various problems when they were trying to claim their 2nd tranche ayuda when this was being fully distributed via digital and automated means. Some of the beneficiaries did not have smartphones or internet access for them to have an e-wallet account,” Mayor Joy Belmonte said in initiating a manual payment.

“That’s why the national government, through much prodding by the city government and barangays, finally started the manual distribution of the unclaimed cash aid yesterday,” she added.

The complete list of the beneficiaries who have yet to claim their cash aid along with their payout schedule is posted in their respective barangays. It will also be made available on the city government’s website, the local government said.

The Department of the Interior and Local Government gave local government units until July 15 to finish the distribution of the financial aid, Fe Macale, head of the Social Services Development Department, said.