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MANILA, Philippines – The Departments of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Information and Communications Technology (DICT) launched a mobile application on Thursday, May 14, to facilitate automated distribution of monetary aid for the emergency subsidy program (ESP ) which helps poor families affected by coronavirus blockade.
The application, called “ReliefAgad”, was developed due to challenges in implementing the first tranche of payments for April.
DSWD said these challenges included a lack of payee data, the laborious process of collecting and coding payee information, and delays caused by manual cash distribution.
The department claims that the application will lead to faster cash relief.
Recipients could register for ESP by digitally entering the same information they would put on a physical social improvement card (SAC) form. They can then choose between GCash, PayMaya, or Cash (to be distributed by local officials) as their preferred payment method.
According to the website, ReliefAgad can only be used by families who have already received a SAC, as the application requires the beneficiary to scan the barcode on the form. The application can be accessed through the mobile through www.reliefagad.ph.
DSWD first announced that it was working with DICT to develop an application on April 28.
It is sure? DSWD director for information and communication technology management service Andrew Ambubuyog said the application has been reviewed by developers at DICT.
“Walang dates on a mobile phone. At the same time, your server can test and certify the DICT. Kami joins the Data Privacy Law. All protective data on Kababayan, Kami’s confidential personal information and their summary.“said Ambubuyog.
(No data will be saved on the mobile phone. At the same time, the server was tested and certified by the DICT. We follow the provisions of the Data Privacy Act. We follow all the ways in which we can protect personal information. confidential of our countrymen.)
What if the beneficiaries do not have smartphones? DICT Undersecretary Manny Caintic said they had an “alternative” system, where beneficiaries would still type their data manually and local officials would encrypt it in the system. Caintic said they would organize training for officials in cases like these.
In addition to ReliefAgad, DSWD and the Ground Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) also partnered with GCash for the payment of drivers of public service vehicles (PUV) and transportation network vehicle services (TNVS) in Metro. Manila.
“The association aims to facilitate a faster and more secure approach to cash disbursement since the payment scheme promotes cashless and contactless transactions that comply with the health and safety protocols imposed by the Interinstitutional Working Group for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), “DSWD said in a press release.
Drivers can withdraw their subsidies through GCash from any ATM throughout the country.
As of Wednesday, May 13, the government has released P94.3 billion to 16.7 million poor families. (TRACKER: DSWD assistance during the coronavirus crisis)
The ESP has two tranches: the first batch of payments for the month of April and the second for May. As of Wednesday, 1,107 of 1,634 local governments have completed payments for April.
President Rodrigo Duterte approved the incorporation of 5 million poor families to receive monetary assistance for the first tranche. For the second tranche of ESP, or payments for the month of May, only families in areas under enhanced community quarantine would receive cash assistance. (READ: DSWD Promises Faster Distribution of Coronavirus Cash in May)
DSWD is still waiting for the Office of the President to publish its written directive with guidelines for distributing the second tranche.
Problems have arisen in the ESP throughout its implementation. Local officials struggle to divide limited SACs among all families in need. Poor families also face the long wait for subsidies that may not even come as their local governments would still decide if they are qualified. People have also gathered in multi-functional rooms to queue for their subsidies.
As of Thursday, the Department of the Interior and Local Government has issued just cause orders to 43 mayors across the country due to the slow distribution of payments. – Rappler.com
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