AMPING Sugbo program launched

Local

CEBUANO families seeking government assistance during medical emergencies, deaths and other crises will no longer have to wait for several months before receiving aid.

This as the Cebu Provincial Government has shortened the processing period to 21 working days under its expanded assistance program.

Gov. Pamela Baricuatro launched the Assistance to the Marginalized for a People-centered, Inclusive and Nurturing Governance (AMPING) Sugbo on Monday, Nov. 9, replacing the provincial government's existing Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program.

Baricuatro said the improved system aims to make government services more accessible and ensure that residents receive assistance faster.

“This is part of our effort to improve systems in the Cebu Provincial Government, so that we may serve the people a lot better, through a kind of service that is made easier for them, through a kind of service that makes them feel that the government is really working for them,” she said during the launch at the Capitol Social Hall.

The new 21-working-day processing period covers the time from application to the release of assistance.

Previously, applicants waited between two and three months before receiving aid.

The Provincial Planning and Development Office (PPDO), Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) and other concerned Capitol departments reviewed the existing workflow to identify delays, clarify office responsibilities and establish specific timelines for processing applications.

The Capitol's Information and Communications Technology Office also developed a digital monitoring system that tracks applications and flags offices that fail to complete their assigned tasks within the prescribed timelines.

Repeated flags will affect the offices' performance evaluations.

Aside from speeding up the process, the provincial government will establish an AMPING Sugbo desk in each of its 16 district and provincial hospitals.

Baricuatro said the hospital-based desks would allow residents to process their requests without traveling to the Capitol in Cebu City, reducing their transportation expenses and travel time.

“This greatly benefits our people since they no longer have to come here at the Capitol, which takes a lot of time and hard-earned money in terms of travel,” she said.

AMPING Sugbo covers medical assistance for hospitalization, medicines, laboratory tests and other procedures; burial assistance for funeral expenses and transportation of remains; and educational assistance for eligible students.

The program also provides transportation fares, food assistance and psychosocial support, depending on the assessed needs of qualified beneficiaries.

The provincial government will also coordinate with partner hospitals, pharmacies and other service providers to facilitate assistance through guarantee letters.

It will provide daily hot meals and family food packs to qualified clients who need them.

Applicants must submit a certificate of indigency from their barangay, a valid government-issued identification card and supporting documents relevant to their requests.

For medical assistance, applicants must provide a medical abstract or certificate and the hospital's latest billing statement.

Burial assistance requires a death certificate, while educational assistance requires a certificate of enrollment.

The provincial government's AICS operates separately from the nationally funded program administered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

It serves underprivileged residents of Cebu province, excluding those from the highly urbanized cities of Cebu and Lapu-Lapu, whose respective local governments or the DSWD regional office handle their assistance.

Meanwhile, Provincial Administrator Joseph “Ace” Durano urged Capitol employees and other government personnel to treat public service as an expression of love and care, particularly when dealing with residents seeking assistance.

He said AMPING Sugbo should go beyond providing financial aid by ensuring that government workers treat beneficiaries with compassion and extend additional help when necessary.

“AMPING Sugbo is a program that should not just simply be of a government giving assistance. It should be an expression of love and care. It is adding a heart and of value to the service, by even providing the extra help, by going the extra mile for them,” Durano said.

He also reminded employees not to scold or mistreat applicants who approach government offices for help, noting that many are already experiencing difficult circumstances.(MyTVCebu)