ZAMBOANGA CITY, Philippines—Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said on Sunday she would order an investigation into reported anomalies behind the government’s cash doleout program for the poor called the Programang Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps).
Among the reported anomalies is the sudden removal of beneficiaries from the program or the reduction in the amount they were supposed to receive.
On Friday, the National Democratic Front (NDF) again issued a statement on the reported anomalies when it said that the 4Ps program has not benefited the people it has been intended for.
In Paquibato district in Davao City, for example, the NDF said “rich peasants and small businessmen” were included on the list of beneficiaries under the 4Ps program.
“The masses are reacting against the onerous inclusion of rich peasants and small businessmen while poor peasants were left out,” Rubi del Mundo, NDF Southern Mindanao spokesman, said.
The same has been happening in Monkayo and Montevista towns in Compostela Valley, he said.
“Barangay (village) officials, their kin and close associates were prioritized in the list,” Del Mundo said.
In Kitaotao, Bukidnon, Del Mundo said the 4Ps program has been used by the military in its counter-insurgency drive.
“Women are openly ordered not to join mass organizations and join their activities,” Del Mundo said.
Soliman said she urged those who knew something about the anomalies to come forward and help speed up the investigation.
“Please give the exact barangay and better if there are names so we can investigate. We need details so we can investigate more quickly. But I will have it investigated,” she said in a text message to the Inquirer.
Soliman said the investigation would start from the areas, which the NDF had mentioned.