LGUs should account for cash aid – Nograles

MANILA, Philippines — Local government units (LGUs) should immediately account for the cash aid they distributed to low income families before they can get the second round of funds for the social amelioration program.

“Unless the LGUs liquidate what they distributed using the social amelioration funds, there won’t be a second round for them. Because no additional funds will be given to the LGU unless it submits a liquidation report,” said Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles.

He also called on LGUs to immediately submit the signed memorandum of agreement and budget proposal to the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) so that the cash aid can be released for distribution.

In a virtual press briefing on Monday, Nograles admitted that there were concerns about the prompt distribution of the P200-billion cash aid for 18 million low-income families for two months.

He assured the public that the government was coordinating with LGUs to address issues such as security, the reconciliation of the list of beneficiaries and logistical challenges in reaching remote areas.

Nograles said the DSWD had also released P800 million to beneficiaries in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

“So if we have P100 billion for our social amelioration program for the month of April, we have released almost 50 percent for this program,” he said.

—JULIE M. AURELIO