Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries in Cebu can now claim their emergency cash subsidy using text or SMS (short message service) using basic cellphones or non-smartphone, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 7 said on Monday.
Rebecca Geamala, DSWD-7 regional director, said the agency has partnered with PayMaya, a financial service provider (FSP) to help beneficiaries in Cebu City who do not have smartphones to still claim their cash assistance using simple texting service.
“To aid in the immediate disbursement of the second tranche of SAP, PayMaya has launched a new process that would allow a text or SMS to Smart Padala agents, allowing feature phones or non-smartphones to be used in claiming their emergency cash subsidy,” she said in a statement.
She said SAP beneficiaries who do not have a smartphone will receive an SMS message informing them that the Bayanihan DSWD SAP Grant Voucher in their PayMaya app has already expired.
However, they will also receive another instruction on how to claim their cash subsidy.
She said that starting last Aug. 20 onwards, the beneficiaries will receive a different SMS message on the schedule and from what Padala agent they can claim the subsidy.
The messaging service will make the beneficiaries of the government’s amelioration program wait for their turn to claim their financial assistance, as Gemala said there is a need “to manage physical distancing”.
The cash availability of the Smart Padala agent will also be managed as sending of text message will be done in batches per day, she added.
DSWD and PayMaya will provide a list of beneficiaries per barangay for proper coordination and assistance from the barangay officials.
Geamala said the beneficiary will have seven days from receipt of the text message to go to the Smart Padala agent to claim their cash subsidy.
“If within the time period they were not able to claim, the beneficiary can coordinate with the DSWD to ask PayMaya to do a rebroadcast of the SMS,” she said.
In claiming the emergency cash subsidy, the beneficiary must show the text message to the Smart Padala agent and present valid identification (ID) or barangay certification and the Social Amelioration Card (SAC) form.
Those who do not have mobile numbers, who have mobile numbers but did not receive the text message and those who have registered with the PayMaya app but failed to match in the system, Gemala said the DSWD can conduct the direct payment.
Other FSP partners like Starpay, RCBC and Unionbank are conducting respective payouts with their cash-out partners such as M. Lhuillier, Cebuana Lhuillier Pawnshop, Gemmary Pawnshop and USSC in various towns and cities in Cebu. (PNA)
