The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reiterated its warning against people pretending to conduct surveys for the conditional cash transfer program of the government.
In a statement, the DSWD said its field office in Region IV-A (Calabarzon) received a report that individuals were posing as enumerators for the National Household Targeting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR) in Maragondon and Magallanes, Cavite.
The said targeting system identifies poor families and serves as a database of beneficiaries for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
While the NHTS-PR is now conducting its second round of nationwide assessment, the DSWD said the public should be wary of those asking them for money in exchange of being included in the database.
“Based on the initial investigation by the DSWD-Field Office, the modus operandi was to introduce themselves as DSWD employees and collect P20 from the household members, giving them assurance that they will be included in the list of possible program beneficiaries,” the statement said.
DSWD said similar reports were received in Morong, Rizal.
The agency has already tapped the Philippine National Police to track the perpetrators of the scam.
Last year, the DSWD also warned the public against fake enumerators in Mindanao.
READ: DSWD warns vs fake survey enumerators
The 4Ps provides cash grants to poor families with the condition that the parents would ensure that their children attend school and receive proper medical attention. It is the flagship poverty alleviation program of the Aquino administration.
DSWD said official enumerators wear proper identification cards and use a Family Assessment Form that has a watermark of the DSWD logo. The enumerators should post a sticker on the house after the assessment. They do not collect fees.
“DSWD encourages households to request for the ID number of the enumerators. If they have any complaints regarding their validation, they can give the ID number to the Listahanan office so that DSWD can verify the complaint and take appropriate action,” the agency said.
Similar complaints may be reported through the NHTS-PR hotline (02) 717-3770 local 88876 or its text hotline numbers 0918-9122813 and 0917-8902327 using the format: Listahan<space>name<space>location<space>grievance/inquiry.