By Genalyn Kabiling
Local government units (LGUs) may be charged with dereliction of duty if they are unable to complete the distribution of the first tranche of emergency subsidy program for poor families before the end of the month, Malacañang said Tuesday.
Harry Roque (ALBERT ALCAIN/PRESIDENTIAL PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN)
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) will issue a show-cause order against local government officials who fail to comply with the aid distribution in a timely manne.
"Nag-utos na po ang DILG, mayroon pong tatlong araw na lamang mula ngayong arawa ang lahat ng local government units na ipamigay ang SAP (social amelioration program)," he said in a virtual press conference Tuesday. (The DILG has ordered, there are only three days left for LGUs to distribute the SAP.)
"Pagkatapos po, magkakaroon na po ng ‘show cause order’ kung bakit hindi sila dapat panagutin (Afterwards, there will be a show cause order why they should not held liable) administratively and criminally. Administratively and criminally, they may be held liable for dereliction of duty which is a form of graft."
The government earlier launched a P200-billion emergency subsidy program for 18 million low income families for the months of April and May.
Under the program, a target beneficiary household may receive a subsidy between P5,000 to P8,000, depending on the minimum wage level in a region.
The subsidy program is part of the government's efforts to mitigate the impact of the quarantine restrictions on the people.
LGUs earlier forged an agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to facilitate the swift distribution of the relief assistance.
In his fifth weekly report to Congress last Monday, President Duterte said the government has so far disbursed P96.8 billion for the DSWD’s aid program. Of the 18 million beneficiaries, at least 6.2 million households have been given the financial aid as of April 24.
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año recently said the distribution of the second tranche of the financial aid program will begin next month.
Low-income families living in areas under extended enhanced community quarantine and those left out from the first tranche will reportedly be given priority this May.