Committee on Finance (Subcommittee ”I”)
Proposed 2021 Budget of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and its attached agencies

Upon questioning by Senator Ralph Recto, the DSWD clarified that the 18 million family-beneficiaries for the 2nd tranche of social amelioration program (SAP) from Bayanihan Act 1 has been trimmed down to 14 million families, generating a “savings” of P10 billion.

DSWD officials said the reduction in the number of beneficiaries was the result of validation they did where families who have received more than one subsidy (either from DSWD, DA or DOLE) were removed from the list to be given the 2nd tranche of SAP.

When asked by Recto what do they intend to do with the “extra” P10 billion, DSWD said they will either return it to the Treasury or use it for livelihood assistance grant.

“We have P10 billion available. It doesn’t make sense to me that this money is returned to the Treasury. Dapat dito itulong pa natin sa mga tao, dun sa mahihirap na pamilya. Marami sa kanila ang hanggang ngayon ay nagrereklamo na hindi pa nakakatanggap ng ayuda mula sa gobyerno,” Recto said.