The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) rushed Wednesday, April 14, in defense of local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region (NCR)-plus that were slammed over the supposed slow distribution of the government’s one-time financial aid to low-income people affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
"We would like to mention that the local government units are doing their best in distributing the assistance to their constituents. We understand that the local government units are also considering the situation and peculiarities in their respective communities and are considering this in the implementation of the various strategies,” DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in an interview with the ABS-CBN's ANC.
On Tuesday night, April 13, the DSWD reported that the number of low-income beneficiaries receiving the aid in NCR-plus has increased to over 2.2 million or almost 10 percent of the 22.9 million people targeted to receive the aid.
Dumlao expressed anew the DSWD’s commitment to keep an eye on the implementation of the aid program for 22.9 million low-income beneficiaries in in the NCR, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
"Likewise, the members of the Joint Monitoring Inspection Team (JMIT), headed of course by the DILG (Department of Interior and Local Government) and whose members include the DSWD, the Philippine National Police and CSO (civil society organization) partners are monitoring and coordinating with the LGUs to help and assist them in distributing the assistance, ensuring that the needed aid will be distributed to our low-income Filipinos.”
As stipulated in Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 1 series of 2021, the JMIT is tasked to address the grievances of beneficiaries, monitor LGUs’ compliance with applicable guidelines, seek the assistance of higher authorities in case of undue delay or systemic anomalies in the distribution, and cause the filing of administrative or criminal cases against public officials in irregular or unlawful practice relative to the financial aid.
The DSWD reminded over the weekend the LGUs to set up their own Grievance and Appeals Committee to immediately address the complaints coming from their constituents regarding the distribution of the cash aid.