USAID, DSWD launch ReliefAgad app for faster SAP aid distribution

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) have launched a new web application called 'ReliefAgad' to speed up the distribution of financial aid to Filipinos impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

ReliefAgad will enable the DSWD and local government units (LGUs) to quickly collect Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiary data and facilitate electronic payments via smartphones.

The SAP is an emergency subsidy program designed to assist over 20 million low-income and vulnerable Filipino families who have been severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis.

Beneficiaries of the SAP include various vulnerable groups such as senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, single parents, repatriated OFWs, indigenous peoples, the homeless, farmers, fisherfolk, and those under 'no work, no pay' arrangements.

US Ambassador Sung Kim highlighted the US's commitment to supporting the Philippines' COVID-19 response efforts through this initiative.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and Developers Connect Philippines (DEVCON) are also collaborating on the ReliefAgad project.

The ReliefAgad system was developed at no cost to the DSWD, aiming for rapid deployment during emergencies by combining crowdsourcing, LGU encoding, and leveraging a tech-savvy population.

USAID is providing technical support, quality assurance, and developing user guides for ReliefAgad, while also assisting with the adoption of e-payment systems for SAP disbursements.

Through its E-PESO project, USAID has been supporting the Philippine government's transition from cash to electronic payments to promote economic growth and financial inclusion.

SAP beneficiaries can now register their social amelioration cards on the ReliefAgad website at www.reliefagad.ph, with support from private sector partners PLDT and Amazon.