Iloilo City Mayor Jerry Treñas does not see any problem with the transfer of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) distribution from local government units (LGUs) to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

“Ang report sa akon, daw kapoy nagid ang mga kapitan ta. Nagapasalamat man kita kon matakeover na ang mga pulis kag army nga sila na managtag,” Treñas said in a press conference on Thursday, May 22.

“Mahapos na man lang ni sa ila kay ara na ang listahan, naprepare na sang aton mga barangay officials,” he added.

SAP, under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, “shall provide the 18 million poor families a monthly allowance of between ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 for up to two months.” 

In Western Visayas, each qualified family receives P6,000.

“And pinakabudlay sa SAP indi ang distribution kundi amo ang pag-ubra sang listahan kay kadamo sang gareklamo nga indi sila madala. Amo na ang rason nga mahinay ang pag-ubra sang listahan,” Treñas.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the state security forces to distribute the second tranche of the cash assistance to ensure that it will reach far-flung and isolated areas.

“Mr. President, with regard to your directive not to download funds to LGUs and to tap the AFP and PNP for the distribution of aid for the second tranche, we have made an initial coordination with the leadership of AFP and PNP,” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista said in a meeting on May 19.IMT