The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reminded Saturday, April 10, the local government units (LGUs) to set up their own Grievance and Appeals Committee to immediately address the complaints coming from their constituents regarding the distribution of the one-time financial assistance in the National Capital Region (NCR)-plus.
DSWD Spokesperson Irene Dumlao said under the Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1 series of 2021, the local chief executives were tasked to issue an executive order or issuance by the local chief executive prior to distribution of the aid.
The issuance shall include the creation and composition of the Grievance and Appeals Committee, she said.
"Lahat po ng lokal na pamahalaan ay dapat meron pong Grievance and Appeals Committee (All local governments should have Grievance and Appeals Committee,” Dumlao said in an interview over DZBB amid reported disorderly distribution of the supplemental assistance in areas under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
She explained that under the 11-page JMC, the committee is expected to act expeditiously on all complaints and maintain a hotline to receive complaints.
"As part of our technical assistance, puwede naman po naming tanggapin itong mga reklamo na hindi natutugunan ng mga lokal na pamahalaan at ating idudulog o icoordinate namin 'yan with the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) at sa concerned local government units (we can accept these complaints which are not addressed by the local governments, and we can lodge and coordinate it with the DILG and the concerned local government units),” Dumlao said.
The DSWD sits as a member of the Joint Monitoring and Inspection Team (JMIT), which was created to monitor the LGUs’ compliance with the provision of the JMC No. 1 and the Local Budget Circular 136, which was issued by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
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Dumlao also clarified that the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) are included in the list of recipients considering that they are beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP), which was implemented last year.
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Around 22.9 million recipients are expected to receive the supplemental aid in areas under ECQ.
Dumlao reiterated that the list of beneficiaries given by the DSWD to the LGUs may be used as a reference for identifying the individuals who will be given aid in their respective localities.
She said the agency is leaving up to the LGUs’ discretion the identification of recipients, since they know well their constituents who are most affected by the ECQ.