By Liezle Basa Inigo
LINGAYEN, Pangasinan – Lingayen Mayor Leopoldo Bataoil has directed all barangay chairpersons here to remove from their respective social amelioration program (SAP) lists those found to be using financial aid given to them for gambling or the purchase of illegal drugs.
(Lingayen PIO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Bataoil signed Executive Order 33 on Sunday, underscoring that the SAP of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was intended to provide financial assistance to the most affected residents of the areas under community quarantine.
But he said there were those who have abused the financial assistance from the national government by indulging in vices such as drinking, gambling, cockfighting, betting, and gaming.
As such, Bataoil said these persons should also be blacklisted from receiving any relief from the local government during the enhanced community quarantine.
He noted the misuse of the financial assistance by some beneficiaries was even put on display in social media in a glaring abuse of the national government’s generosity.
Bataoil said that, due to the strain in the national and local budget, it would be more worthwhile if the SAP financial assistance or any relief from the national or local government for that matter be delivered instead to other equally qualified beneficiaries who would put them to proper use.