Año orders local governments to identify poor families not given cash aid

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Eduardo Año has tasked local officials nationwide to submit by Thursday their lists of low-income families left out of the first tranche payout of the social amelioration program.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD) had estimated that some 5 million families were excluded from the first tranche distribution of the financial assistance. This number is separate from the 18 million households included in the first round payout of the emergency subsidy.

In a DILG memorandum circular, Año ordered local chief executives to identify low-income families, among the 5 million categorized as “left out or wait-listed,” and submit on or before May 21 the lists to the agency’s and the DSWD’s regional offices.

He clarified that the list “shall in no way be construed as the final list of beneficiaries which shall still be subject to further validation by the DSWD.”

The interior secretary tasked barangays to prepare the initial list of the left-out family beneficiaries, without taking into consideration their length of stay in the locality and voter’s registration, and to post the list in conspicuous places in the community or on the barangays’ social media platforms for public viewing and access.

He said persons with complaints on the barangay list could appeal to the municipal social welfare and development office or the mayor. The concern may be elevated to the DSWD if no action is taken.

“These left-out households, around 5 million of them, will be assisted so it is very important for the [local governments]to come up with the list as soon as possible,” Año said.

Meanwhile, at least 109 beneficiaries of the cash subsidy who are also members of the government’s flagship antipoverty program, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) in South Cotabato and Sultan Kudarat, were able to claim cash aid intended for non-Pantawid Pamilya recipients, according to the DSWD.

The DSWD said once it was proven that they received cash aid twice, they might be suspended or removed from the 4Ps. They could also face perjury and estafa charges.

“We have already identified some of the perpetrators, and the photos we have of them receiving cash assistance in two different barangays is undeniable. They even had the audacity to use their own names thinking we will not discover this. We will not tolerate this. The agency is going to file appropriate charges against them,” said Cezario Joel Espejo, DSWD Regional Director of Region 13.