By Charissa Luci-Atienza The submission of the photo of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiary during actual receipt of the assistance is among the documentary requirements needed before the local government units receive their second wave of cash aid, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Wednesday, April 29. DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista asked the LGUs to ensure the transparent disbursement of their cash subsidy allocation. "Kasama dun kelangan habang tinanggap ng benepisyaryo ang ayuda kailangan may picture. Meron po kaming listahan na dapat isubmit nila sa DSWD," he said in a radio interview. (Included in the requirement is while, the beneficiary is receiving the aid, a picture must be taken. We have a list that they must submit to the DSWD.) He said aside from the photo of the SAP beneficiary, LGUs are required to submit the accomplished SAC forms, the list of paid beneficiaries or payroll signed by the beneficiaries, the photocopy of the identification card with specimen signatures of the beneficiaries, and certificate of payment duly signed by the authorized official of the LGU concerned. The DSWD chief said under their guidelines, the LGUs are required to submit the liquidation and financial reporting documents to the DSWD within 15 days from the completion of the distribution. "Alam po ito ng local pamahalaan kaya inencourage namin sila na dapat sa lalong madaling panahon, maibigay nila ang ayuda ayon sa direktiba ng ating President na ibigay expeditiously ang mga ayuda. Kaya the earlier na matapos ang ibibigay, earlier din sila makaliquidate at sa amin naman, pag navalidate ang documentary requirements, maibigay din namin agad ang second tranche," he said. (The local government knows this, that is why we are encouraging them as soon as possible to distribute the aid based on the directive of the President that the aid should be given expeditiously. The earlier they complete the distribution, the earlier they liquidate and on our part, once the documentary requirements are validated, we can immediately give the second tranche.) Memorandum Circular No. 9 series of 2020 provides that among the documents that must be submitted by the LGUs to the DSWD include the report of checks (ROC) issued or report of disbursements (ROD) duly approved by the LGU accountant and approved by the Local Chief Executive (LCE) and copy of Official Receipt for any refund of unutilized balance. Under circular, the LGUs are expected to refund all unutilized or disallowed amounts within 15 days from submission of the liquidation report. Bautista warned the LGUs that are found abusing and violating the SAP program shall have corresponding civil, administrative, and criminal liabilities. He said once they validate the LGUs' liquidation report and find irregularities, the DSWD will summon the erring local government officials to explain and if they are found guilty of violating Republic Act No. 11469 or the Bayanihan to Heal As One Act, appropriate sanctions will be slapped. "Ang lahat ng documentary requirements, iva-validate po namin 'yun. Pag may nakita kaming iregular dun ay usually bibigyan namin sila ng pagkakataon ma-iexplain at kung masasabi na talagang may iregularidad may usapan na kami ng DILG para sa karampatang sanction dun sa mga gumawa ng iregularidad na ito," the DSWD Chief said. (We will validate all the documentary requirements. If we find irregularities, we usually give them chance to explain and if we find irregularities, we have agreement with the DILG for the corresponding sanctions against those who committed such irregularities.) Bautista reminded that the LGUs are not allowed to divide the cash subsidy among the beneficiaries. "Pag 'yung P3,000 ipamahagi sa isang tao, tapos P2,000 ibibigay sa ibang tao. May violation po tayo dito ng ating batas," he said. (If the P3,000 is given to one person and the another P2,000 is given to other person. There is violation of law here.) Bautista confirmed that the DSWD received reports of ghost beneficiaries, as well as reports that some LGUs included their favored, but ineligible beneficiaries. Under the guidelines, the LGU officials who will give the cash aid to ineligible beneficiaries will be subjected to investigation by competent authorities for proper determination of administrative, civil, and/or criminal liability, including the refund of subsidy improperly provided, as the case may be. It provides that in cases of duplication in the emergency subsidy program, the family shall be disqualified from receiving the next tranche of the cash assistance. "No additional funds may be transferred to the LGUs until they have submitted a liquidation report for the earlier fund releases," it said.#