The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga in coordination with the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP) started the cash card distribution under the Unconditional Cash Transfer (UCT)-Social Pension beneficiaries in selected municipalities in the region.
The Department has continually coordinated with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and LBP while awaiting for the funds to be downloaded and for the preparation of the cash-cards. DSWD has also coordinated with the City/ Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (C/MSWDO), and Office of the Senior Citizens Association officials in facilitating the preparation of the distribution and in explaining to the beneficiaries the delay of the schedules.
As to date, the agency distributed cash card to 2,531 social pension beneficiaries in Buenavista on May 18, 20, and 21. But there are remaining 605 unclaimed cash cards due to unavailability of the beneficiaries. 622 out of the 1,752 beneficiaries also received their cards in the municipality of Las Nieves on June 10. The rest will have their cards during the 2nd batch distribution on June 17, 2021.
The Field Office has posted a schedule for the municipalities/cities in Agusan del Norte, but due to the strict implementation of Local Government Units (LGUs) placed under Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ), these schedules have been deferred.
According to OIC-UCT Head Adelito T. Mendoza, the Field Office targets to complete the distribution of all cash cards to Social Pension and Listahanan beneficiaries on October this year.
“There are additional cash cards coming in the region from the LBP Central Office. These cash cards will be distributed as soon as possible as the Department target to complete the distribution before the year ends”, said Mendoza.
As per LBP guidelines during the distribution, the beneficiaries need to personally secure the cash card and bring any valid ID as proof of identification. If unable to be present for the scheduled distribution, another schedule will be set for them to secure their cards.
UCT is the biggest tax reform mitigation program of the government to address the effects of the TRAIN law. It seeks to provide cash grants to poor households who may not benefit from the lower income tax but may be adversely affected by the rising prices of goods and commodities. ###(Social Marketing Section/DSWD Field Office Caraga)
