Mayor Edwin Santiago signs a MOA with LBP-San Fernando assistant manager John Paul Bascon. Contributed photo
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Distribution of all kinds of financial aid by the city government will soon be contactless as it will done through electronic mode.
The city government recently signed a memorandum of agreement with the Land Bank of the Philippines to give out cash cards to all regular beneficiaries of the city’s social services program. A cash card is an electronic payment card that stores cash credits for various types of payments.
“Ang Landbank cash card, ATM din ito. Ang gagawin lang ng LGU, dedepositohan nila ito and yung beneficiaries makakapag-withdraw na sila from any Landbank or other bank machines and pwede rin nila ito magamit sa mga malls, groceries and restaurant. Pwede nilang i-swipe ang kanilang cards para makapag-bayad sila,” said John Paul Bascon, assistant manager of LBP San Fernando branch.
Mayor Edwin Santiago hailed the agreement as “a partnership that benefit senior citizens, local Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program members, and city scholars.”
Enthused Santiago: “Kaya natin ito ginawa para mas maging episyente ang ating mga serbisyo at mabilis na makakarating sa mga benepisyaryo yung kanilang subsidy allowance. And this is a good move para maiwasan na rin natin yung face-to-face distribution ngayong may pandemic.“
As to the prioritization of beneficiaries, city social welfare and development officer Aileen Villanuevasaid: “Bale, mauuna yung batch ng binibigyan natin ng social pension, yung mga indigent senior citizens na 1,500 and 750 na members natin ng local 4P’s. Mauuna sila kasi may quarterly silang subsidy sa atin, so in the form of electronic payout na.“
Starting February, the CSWDO and Treasurer’s Office will be working together to facilitate the application of cash cards and submission of requirements to LBP.
LBP will then start the production of cards from April to May and will release them in June.
