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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DSWD wants to see data on 1.3 million SAP unserved beneficiaries due to use of Starpay app

DSWD wants to see data on 1.3 million SAP unserved beneficiaries due to use of Starpay app

Published Jul 5, 2021 07:00 pm

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Monday, July 5, it wanted to see the data on the supposed 1.3 million unserved beneficiaries who failed to receive their cash aid under the national government’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP) due to use of Starpay e-wallet as claimed by Senator Manny Pacquiao.

DSWD conducts manual SAP payout in San Mateo, Rizal on June 23, 2021. A SAP beneficiary receives his emergency cash subsidy from the DSWD disbursing officer. (DSWD Facebook Page)

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista maintained that the department is ready to face any investigating body to shed light on Pacquiao’s allegations that some P10.4 billion worth of SAP funds went missing and that 1.3 beneficiaries were unable to receive their cash aid.

https://twitter.com/chailuci/status/1411903751779098627

“Unang-una nais munang makita ng departamento ang datos na basehan ni Senator Pacquiao sa nabanggit na bilang ng mga benepisyaryo na nakuha ang kanilang ayuda sa pamamagitan ng pagdownload ng mismong app ng Starpay pero nais natin banggitin na ang ibang benepisyaryo ay nakatanggap ng financial aid sa pamamagitan ng conduits na affiliated sa financial service providers (First of all, the department would like to see the data which serves as Senator Pacquiao’s basis on the mentioned number of beneficiaries who received the cash aid by downloading the Starpay app, but we would like to mention that other beneficiaries received financial aid through of conduits affiliated with financial service providers),” he said in a virtual Palace briefing on Monday.

He said Starpay’s conduits include MLhuiller, and USSC. Starpay is among the six financial service providers (FSPs) tapped by the DSWD to expedite the second tranche distribution of cash aid under Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, popularly known as Bayanihan 1.

“Katuwang ng FSPs ang mga conduits sapagkat base sa datos nakita na may mga benepisyaryo na walang smart phones or may data quality issues or data connectivity concerns kung kaya pinadalhan ang benepisyaryo ng reference numbers para ma-cash out ang kanilang ayuda (FSPs partnered with the conduits because based on the data it was found that there are beneficiaries who do not have smart phones or have data quality issues or data connectivity concerns so the beneficiary was given reference numbers to cash out their aid),” Bautista said.

Related stories: https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/03/willing-to-present-evidence-documents-dswd-ready-to-face-new-round-of-sap-probe/

https://mb.com.ph/2021/07/04/walang-nawawala-dswd-assures-sap-funds-all-accounted-for/

In a virtual presser on Saturday, July 3, Pacquiao said based on their investigation, the initial disbursement of P14 billion for 1.8 million beneficiaries appeared to have been sent through Starpay. He said of the 1.8 beneficiaries only 500,000 downloaded the Starpay’s app.

The DSWD chief said he and President Duterte have yet to talk about Pacquiao’s allegations.

“Siguro in due time ibibigay nya rin siguro ang instruction nya sa akin at handa po akong sundin kung ano pong instruction na ipapahatid nya sa akin (Maybe in due time, he will his instruction and I am ready to follow whatever instruction he will relay to me),” he said.

In a Viber message, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said there is no request yet from Pacquiao’s office seeking access to agency’s reports on the government’s SAP implementation.

“Wala pa po kami na nareceive na communication (We have not yet received communication) from the Office of Senator Manny Pacquiao,” she said.

The DSWD signed on June 30, 2020 a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the Lank Bank of the Philippines (LBP) and six FSPs for the “faster and more efficient” digital payment of SAP 2 subsidies.

Aside from Starpay, the five other FSPs are Robinsons Bank, Unionbank, RCBC, Gcash, and Paymaya.

Related Tags

Department of Social Welfare and Development Social Amelioration Program SAP beneficiaries Starpay
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