A total of 60,520 Zambaleño families have received their COVID-19 financial aid as of May 15, 2020.

After the implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) over Luzon and other areas due to the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), work except for frontline services was suspended. This has left workers who rely on daily earnings and those whose jobs cannot adjust to a work-from-home setup, dependent on the government's financial assistance.

With this and the passage of Republic Act No. 11469, otherwise known as the "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act of 2020", the National Government through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) intensified its response to most affected families and individuals of areas under the community quarantine, including the province of Zambales, by providing financial assistance amounting to Php 6,500.00 being given given per household.

The target beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) were low-income households or those in subsistence economy or workers in the informal economy, assessed to be most affected by the declaration given their existing life situations or circumstances.

In Zambales, a total of 60,888 were targeted as beneficiaries from across the province with a total of Php 395,772,000.00 fund allocation. As of May 15, 2020, five days after the last extension of the SAP distribution, 368 families were yet to receive their cash assistance in the municipalities of Castillejos, Iba and San Narciso. While the LGUs of Botolan, Cabangan, Candelaria, Masinloc, Palauig, San Antonio, San Felipe, San Marcelino, Sta. Cruz and Subic have completed the distribution of the cash subsidies.

Below is the status of the distribution of cash subsidies per municipality as to the amount allocation, number of actual beneficiaries, actual amount of payout and date of payout completion:

No. LGU Allocated Amount No. of Actual Beneficiaries paid Actual Amount of Payout                   (to date) Actual Date of Completion Remarks
1 Botolan 36,946,000.00 5,684 36,946,000.00 May 12, 2020  
2 Cabangan 14,339,000.00 2,206 14,339,000.00 May 7, 2020  
3 Candelaria 17,355,000.00 2,670 17,355,000.00 May 4, 2020  
4 Castillejos 49,296,000.00 7,286 47,359,000.00 Not yet completed  
5 Iba 35,847,500.00 5,482 35,633,000.00 Not yet completed  
6 Masinloc 32,136,000.00 4,944 32,136,000.00 May 4, 2020  
7 Palauig 19,246,500.00 2,959 19,233,500.00 May 4, 2020 2 beneficiaries returned their SAP cash aids
8 San Antonio 25,408,500.00 3,909 25,408,500.00 May 6, 2020  
9 San Felipe 15,210,000.00 2,340 15,210,000.00 May 06, 2020  
10 San Marcelino 20,494,500.00 3,153 20,494,500.00 May 15, 2020  
11 San Narciso 19,649,500.00 2,988 19,422,000.00 Not yet completed  
12 Sta. Cruz 35,457,500.00 5,455 35,457,500.00 May 10, 2020  
13 Subic 74,386,000.00 11,444 74,386,000.00 May 4, 2020  
  Total 395,772,000.00 60, 520 393,380,000.00    

Source: DILG Zambales Status of SAP Payout Monitoring Sheet

In terms of the posting of the list of SAP beneficiaries in conspicuous places, all 230 or 100% of the barangays in the province have complied. This is to promote the culture of transparency as one of the aspects of good governance especially during this public health crisis.

The DSWD being the lead agency to implement the said program was also assisted by local functionaries like Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) and other offices namely: Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), as well as other authorized personnel during the payout to ensure peace and order in the designated payout areas. Likewise, wearing of facemasks and social distancing were also observed.

Amidst this pandemic, the national government calls out for understanding and cooperation of all as they find ways to effectively and efficiently respond to the needs of its constituents, especially the most vulnerable sectors of the country.