TACLOBAN CITY, July 18 (PIA) — As pronounced by DSWD-8 Regional Director Marie Angela Gopalan when interviewed at PIA Panindugan, SAP distribution for the waitlisted in Region 8 has already started.

The initial distribution of Emergency Subsidy for the waitlisted in Eastern Visayas was conducted by the employees of the DSWD Regional Office in La Paz, Leyte; Caibiran, Biliran; and in Lawaan, Eastern Samar.

Some 214 beneficiaries received the financial assistance: 37 from La Paz, 29 from Caibiran at 148 from Lawaan.

A total of P1,070,000 was distributed by DSWD at the initial distribution of the emergency subsidy.

The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude for the financial assistance they received.

Marilou, a housewife, said, “Simula ng pandemic, nahinto ang aming source of income. Mahirap na ang aming sitwasyon ngayon, nawalan ng trabaho ang asawa ko at wala kaming mapagkunan ng kita. Kaya ang laki ng pasasalamat ko dahil naka-avail ako ng SAP. Salamat dahil may ganito kayong programa para sa mga tulad sa amin na naapektuhan ng pandemic. Gagamitin ko ang pera pambili ng gatas ng anak ko, bigas, vitamins, groceries namin, at para sa pang-araw-araw naming gastos.”

Per Executive Order 112, Eastern Visayas is no longer included in the areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine. Because of this, it is no longer qualified for the SAP second tranche.

Instead, DSWD will distribute emergency subsidy for the waitlisted families. These are the families who are eligible but did not receive emergency subsidy in the first tranche.

For now, DSWD already has a schedule for distribution in several municipalities in the region and is expected to make the distribution soon.

Director Gopalan said, “We will write the Mayors so we can start the distribution in the municipalities.” (PIA-8)