Duterte to gov’t agencies, LGUs: Simplify aid distribution or face Ombudsman

MANILA, Philippines — Any delay in the process of distributing financial aid would be forwarded to the Office of the Ombudsman for immediate action, President Rodrigo Duterte warned government agencies and local government units.

Duterte said this as he called on departments implementing the cash assistance programs to simplify the process of giving aid to the public.

“What I would like to happen is this. Simplify the giving of the money. If it says for food, God damn it, you give it because if it’s for food, kakainin yan [they’ll consume it]. All assistance connected with the health of a person, gawin ninyo [do it], do away with delay,” Duterte said in a pre-recorded speech aired Tuesday.

“Pag hindi at nag-report ang isang tao sa akin, yung report niya diretso na yun sa Ombudsman for immediate action. The Ombudsman can suspend you anytime with strong reasons or with weak reasons, he has that power,” he added.

(If not and a person reports to me, their report will go straight to the Ombudsman for immediate action. The Ombudsman can suspend you anytime with strong reasons or with weak reasons, he has that power.)

Since areas in the country were placed under community quarantine to curb the coronavirus, the government distributed cash aid to poor families most affected by the restrictions.

Under the second tranche of the national government’s social amelioration program, 98 percent of the target 14 million beneficiaries has so far received their P5,000 to P8,000 cash subsidy.

JPV