Around 33,000 families in Eastern Samar excluded from the national government’s social amelioration program (SAP) will receive PHP2,000 cash assistance from the provincial government.

In a statement on Thursday, Governor Ben Evardone said at least PHP65 million was allocated for the provincial emergency assistance program (PEAP), covering recipients from 594 villages.

“This initiative was agreed by the inter-agency task force to ease the burden of families adversely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic,” he added.

Since its distribution in July, the provincial government has served household-beneficiaries in the towns of Mercedes, Oras, Giporlos, Quinapondan, Sulat, and Borongan City.

Evardone said there was a delay in the release of cash assistance due to a rigorous validation process to ensure no duplication of recipients.

Among the government agencies that extended cash aid through SAP are the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Department of Agriculture (DA), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).

Evardone said also excluded in the PEAP are beneficiaries of DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating (livelihood assistance for) disadvantage/displaced workers, DA’s expanded survival and recovery assistance program, and the DSWD’s conditional cash transfer program, who were initial recipients of the emergency cash subsidy.

As of Wednesday, Eastern Samar has confirmed a total of 52 Covid-19 cases, the lowest among the six provinces in Eastern Visayas, according to the Department of Health.

Meanwhile, the region has reported a total of 3,957 cases, including 3,352 recoveries and 40 deaths. (PNA)