10
Results of the Community-Based Peer Monitoring
Local Government Support
During the pandemic, support from the government comes in various forms
such as Social Amelioration Program (SAP), LGU financial assistance/and relief
packs, Social Security System (SSS) financial assistance, and maintenance
medicine, check-ups or assistance to constituents such as providing the use of
ambulance to bring patients to the hospitals.
Interviewees mentioned challenges they encountered in dealing with
their respective barangay. These included: non-issuance of quarantine passes;
delayed or failed distribution of relief packages and cash aid under the SAP.
With regard to the SAP, most of the women with disabilities have cited
that they did not receive the SAP. The reasons given for disqualification are that
most of them are single. Other reasons are they are not registered voters of their
place of residence during the lockdown.
Many said the SAP only covered their basic needs. The lack of comprehensive
disaggregated data and consultation with persons with disabilities resulted in
assistance that obviously failed to take into account the cost of disability–related
needs of persons with disabilities, which is part of the overall household expenses.
These are the results when the Interviewees were asked to rate Barangay
LGU performance:
Gave BLGU a
Passing Mark
Rated BLGU
Satisfactory
Rated BLGU
Excellent
Interviewees at least received food rations daily and
assistance from the barangay helped in meeting families’
needs, especially those who are members of the 4Ps
(conditional cash transfer) program. However, interviewees
said the listing and distribution systems had some glitches;
rations were given only for a week and not for the entire
duration of the quarantine.
Food aid was distributed house to house in a timely fashion,
with persons with disability receiving the aid, or were even
prioritized to receive the aid.
Distribution of aid (ayuda) was timely and observed
anti-COVID 19 protocols. Finally, those who rated the
BLGU poor said they did not receive aid at all, the aid was
not enough, and the distribution system was faulty.