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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider Solons seek DSWD secretary's presence in probe on delayed SAP distribution

Solons seek DSWD secretary's presence in probe on delayed SAP distribution

Published Jun 25, 2020 12:00 am
By Ellson Quismorio A ranking member of the House of Representatives says that it's an absolute necessity for Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rolando Bautista to show up when the chamber resumes its investigation on the bungled Social Amelioration Program (SAP) distribution. House of the Representatives (Facebook/ MANILA BULLETIN) House of the Representatives (Facebook / FILE PHOTO / MANILA BULLETIN) "There should be no sacred cows in this situation. Kung may palpak, alamin kung sino at bakit (If somebody screwed up, let's find out who and why)," Surigao del Norte 2nd district Rep. Robert Barbers said Thursday, without referring to anybody in particular. The House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability began an inquiry in aid of legislation regarding the delay distribution of emergency cash aid under SAP last Monday. Bautista was not invited to the proceedings. Instead, it was the DSWD's fleet of undersecretaries and regional director who appeared and were subsequently grilled by House members led by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano. "Sana nandoon nga siya to answer all questions, ika nga direct from the horse's mouth ang reply (I wished he was there to answer all the questions, to get a reply direct from the horse's mouth so to speak)," Dangerous Drugs Committee Chairman Barbers said of the DSWD chief. Monday's hearing primarily tackled the lengthy delay in the roll out of the cash aid, which amounts to P5,000 to P8,000 monthly per household. The SAP provision of Republic Act (RA) No.11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Law said two tranches of cash aid would be given to some 18 million low-income families nationwide, particularly in April and May. Due to a 30-step process imposed by the DSWD, the first mass dole out instead took place in May, while the second is still is reportedly underway. This irked Cayetano and his fellow House leaders, who have vowed to expedite the process and rid it of red tape. Good Government panel chairman, Bulacan 1st district Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado disclosed during Monday's hearing that Bautista was purposely not invited since he believed that the latter was not responsible for the problem as far as the delayed SAP distribution is concerned. "Maliwanag na sa level ni Sec. Bautista ay wala tayong problema...mabilis siya umaksyon. Unfair naman kung isasama natin siya dito (It's clear that we don't have a problem at the level of Sec. Bautista...he is quick to act. It would be unfair to make him come here)," Alvarado said. Anakalusugan Party-List Rep. Mike Defensor commented that the DSWD boss must still be fully aware of the challenges that the agency is facing in connection with the P200-billion SAP. "Gusto kong ipaalala na mayroon ding command responsibility... Sana makita din niya itong mga problemang Ito (I would like to remind him that there's also command responsibility...I hope he is seeing all of these problems)," Defensor said.
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