House to probe delays in cash aid

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives is seeking an investigation into the delay in the distribution of cash aid under the government’s social amelioration programs (SAP), which were meant to soften the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on low-income Filipinos.

House Resolution No. 973, filed on Monday by Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano and eight other House leaders, also wants to “review and assess, in aid of legislation,” the supposed delay by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in implementing Republic Act No. 11469, or the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.

“Contrary to the principles and directives set forth by the President to expedite the distribution of assistance to the public, the [concerns and issues] caused delays which led the DSWD to miss distribution deadlines twice for the second tranche of distribution intended for the month of May to be deferred,” the resolution read.

“The general principle espoused by [President Duterte] in the distribution of aid is that the 18 million Filipinos who are most vulnerable to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the community quarantine must get the resources at the fastest possible time, with the least number of requirements and regulations,” HR 973 said.

But according to the authors of the House resolution, the distribution of cash aid has been beset with delays purportedly caused by the DSWD’s “lengthy and complicated” procedures.

Citing reports from local government units, a single claim for SAP supposedly required a total of 30 steps, five layers of approval, and with an estimated completion time of three weeks.

The authors of the resolution said House leaders and members had urged the DSWD to review its SAP guidelines including closely communicating with local government.

The DSWD on Tuesday said it finally began distributing cash aid to wait-listed families.

In an online press briefing, the DSWD said 266 wait-listed family-beneficiaries in Kapangan, Benguet, and 219 families in Baguio City were able to receive P5,500 in aid.

Earlier, the DSWD released P6.7 billion to 1.3 million 4Ps beneficiaries with cash cards.

Social Welfare Secretary Rolando Bautista said those in other qualified areas would also begin to receive the second tranche cash aid next week.

Citing the Joint Memorandum Circular No. 2, Bautista listed the following areas which will receive the second tranche of aid: Metro Manila, Central Luzon (except Aurora), Calabarzon, Benguet, Pangasinan, Iloilo, Cebu Province, Bacolod, Davao City, Albay Province, and Zamboanga Province.

In a statement on Tuesday, Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary Eduardo Año said 397 barangay officials and civilians have been criminally charged for their alleged involvement in anomalies on the first tranche distribution of the emergency cash subsidy.