By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Thursday, April 23 that the distribution of the second tranche of emergency subsidies in May under the government's Social Amelioration Program (SAP) will be delayed if the local government units (LGUs) fail to complete the payouts by end of this month.
DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje
(DSWD REGION 1 / MANILA BULLETIN)
DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje said the DSWD is closely coordinating with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to ensure that the distribution of the subsidies to the 18 million low-income households will be expedited by the LGUs.
He said the DSWD "will be forced" not to download the additional funds for the second tranche to the LGUs that fail to liquidate the first tranche of SAP funds.
"Maaapektuhan ang pamamahagi ng subsidy sa buwan ng Mayo kung hindi matatapos ng mga LGU, o ng ilang LGU ang payout," Paje said in a virtual press conference.
(The distribution of the subsidy in the month of May will be affected if the LGUs, or some LGUs will not complete the payouts.)
"Mapipilitan po ang DSWD na hindi muna ibigay ang kasunod na bahagi ng emergency subsidy sa sinumang LGU na hindi makakapagpasa ng liquidation report sa takdang araw," he said.
(The DSWD will be forced not to give the second tranche of the emergency subsidy to the LGUs which will fail to pass its liquidation report on the day of submission.)
He said the LGUs are required to submit the liquidation and financial reporting documents to the DSWD within 15 days from the completion of the distribution. These include report of checks (ROC) issued or report of disbursements (ROD) duly approved by the LGU accountant and approved by the Local Chief Executive (LCE) and copy of Official Receipt for any refund of unutilized balance.
"Nakasaad po sa memorandum of agreement na nilagdaan ng DSWD at ng mga LGUs, ang mga LGU ang may buong responsibilidad sa wastong pamamahagi at sa disbursement ng pondo alinsunod sa mga umiiral na alituntunin at regulasyon sa accounting at auditing na itinakda ng Commission on Audit.Ito po nasasaad sa COA Circular 94-013," Paje said.
(It is stipulated in the memorandum of agreement signed by the DSWD and the LGUs, that the LGUs are responsible for the proper distribution and disbursement of funds based on the guidelines and regulations on accounting at auditing set by Commission on Audit. This is based on COA Circular 94-013.)
Paje reminded the LGUs that within 15 days from submission of the liquidation report, the LGUs are expected to refund all unutilized or disallowed amounts.
He said the DSWD is studying other payment options to fast track the distribution of the subsidies.
"Sa ating mga kababayan na naghihintay ng ayuda, kami po ay humihingi ng inyong pag-unawa at tiwala, kaunting pasensiya lang po. Amin pong ginagawa ang lahat ng aming makakaya upang magampanan namin ang tungkulin namin sa sambayang Pilipino, " he said.
(To our fellow Filipinos who are waiting for their assistance, we ask for your understanding and trust, more patience. We are exhausting all means to ensure that we fulfill our duty to the Filipino people.)
He said the DBM has provided P96 billion to the DSWD for the second wave distribution of the emergency subsidies, and the remaining balance of P4 billion will be released depending on the distribution of the second tranche.
Paje disclosed that more than 5.7 million beneficiaries received P27.9 billion worth of emergency subsidies nationwide. The total number of beneficiaries who received the subsidies is 31.66 percent of the target 18 million households as provided under Republic Act No. 11469.
Under RA 11469 or the "Bayanihan to Heal As One Act", 18-million low-income households are entitled to receive emergency subsidy ranging from P5,000 to P8,000 for two months starting April.
Of the total number of SAP beneficiaries, more than 2 million are low-income, non-4Ps households receiving emergency subsidies worth P11.5 billion.
SAP beneficiaries also include 3.7 million 4Ps families and more than 40,000 Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) drivers, he said.
The 4Ps families received P16.3 billion subsidies during April 3 to April 5 payouts.
While, the PUV drivers got P323 million subsidy allocation.
Paje, a retired major general, said the DSWD has downloaded more than P77 billion SAP funds to 1,450 LGUs. He noted that on April 17, DSWD already transferred more than P2 billion SAP funds to Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), and P849 million has been distributed to municipalities.
He said they received initial reports that there are ongoing payouts in the municipalities of Maguindanao and province of Sulu.
There are 180,979 target beneficiaries in BARMM.
Paje expressed anew the DSWD's support to the online publication of the list of SAP beneficiaries.
He assured the SAP beneficiaries that their personal information will not be publicly disclosed in compliance with the Data Privacy Act.
Paje said the DSWD through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) has provided P100.7 million in assistance to 4,250 clients who "have COVID-related concerns" and 21,832 other individuals, including 2,388 stranded workers.
He said the DSWD has distributed a total of 493,884 Family Food Packs (FFPs) worth about P194.2 million nationwide as augmentation support to LGUs.