MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Thursday it needs a minimum of three days to process the P5,000 to P8,000 cash aid for low-income households in the government’s social amelioration program.

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DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista said the agency has already coordinated with the local government units (LGUs) to get the list of beneficiaries.

“Minimum of three days yon, kaya na po iyon (that can be done),” Bautista said in a virtual briefing when asked how long it would take to distribute the cash aid.

“Pero sabi ko nga po, kailangan po talaga matinding validation yun para hindi magkaroon ng duplication and at the same time, ma-ensure na yung profile nya is qualified sa conditions para makatanggap ka ng ayuda,” he explained.

(There must be validation so that there would be no duplication and at the same time, to ensure that they are qualified to receive the aid under some conditions.)

Beneficiaries of the said program include informal sector workers and other members of the vulnerable sectors badly hit by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

DSWD earlier said LGUs will distribute social amelioration card (SAC) forms to their constituents to be filled up with the required information, including personal information, monthly income, nature of work, and the like.

Bautista said this form will serve as a validation tool to see whoever needs the assistance the most.

“Dito na ngayon yung isang critical, magkakaroon ng validation, sisiguraduhin natin na yung mga target beneficiary ay talagang credible at talagang sila yung nakasaad sa social amelioration card,” he said.

(This is critical; there will be validation to ensure that the target beneficiaries are credible and they are really the ones in the social amelioration card.)

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The amount to be given to the beneficiaries will depend on the minimum wage in their respective regions.

Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, the government allotted at least P200-billion for the subsidy program aimed at helping low-income households amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

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