DSWD chief to beneficiaries: No need to share cash aid with barangay officials
Beneficiaries are not obligated to surrender a portion of the cash aid given to them by the government to any barangay or government official for redistribution.

This was a reminder issued by Department of Welfare and Social Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian to beneficiaries of government assistance, following an incident where a beneficiary only got P1,500 of the supposed P10,000 aid given to her by the agency.
"[S]amantalahin ko na yung pagkakataon na manawagan sa ating mga benepisyaryo na 'pag may lumapit sa inyo at sabihin na kukunin nila yung portion ng binigay namin. Wag kayong pumayag (I would take this opportunity to call on our beneficiaries that if someone approaches you and get a portion of what we gave you, do not let them do it)," Gatchalian said in an interview on the sidelines of distribution of government assistance in Isabela on Monday, June 10.
"Hindi kayo obligado na magbigay kahit kanino, para sa inyo 'yang ayuda na yan. Mag-report agad kayo katulad ng ginawa nitong biktima (You are not obligated to give it to anyone, the assistance is intended for you. Report it immediately, like what the victim did)," he added.
The DSWD chief also said that they will ensure that the incident will serve as a warning to barangay officials and other government officials and employees that they do not have the right to take advantage of the poor beneficiaries.
Last week, a beneficiary of the government's P10,000 cash aid given to families affected by El Niño only took home P1,500 after their barangay officials allegedly took the remaining P8,500 to redistribute it to other people in need within their community.
What the barangay officials allegedly did, Gatchalian said, defeats the purpose of the program intended to help struggling families get back on their feet after taking the hit from the impacts of El Niño.
He stressed that nobody has the right, whether it's an elected official, barangay official, or appointed official, to get a portion of the cash assistance and redistribute it to others.