Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development says it will be forced to withhold releasing the second tranche of financial aid to local governments that do not submit on time their liquidation reports on the first payments.
“Mapipilitan po ang DSWD na hindi muna i-download ang susunod na tranche ng emergency subsidy sa kung sinumang LGU na hindi makakapagpasa ng liquidation report sa tamang pahanon na labinlimang araw matapos makumpleto ang payout,” DSWD Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje said in a virtual media briefing on Thursday.
[Translation: The DSWD will be forced not to download for the meantime the next tranche of the emergency subsidy to any LGU that will not be able to pass a liquidation report in the rightful time, which is 15 days after having completed the payout of financial aid.]
The DSWD’s Memorandum Circular No. 4 requires LGUs to submit the liquidation reports within prescribed deadlines.
Paje said that while there are indeed funds to be distributed for the second tranche, the failure of some LGUs to finish distributing the emergency subsidies will affect payouts for May.
He reiterated that local governments are also mandated to ensure the timely and proper payment to beneficiaries.
Updates in cash aid distribution
The department also confirmed in the briefing that over ₱75.7 billion has been released to 1,456 local governments across the country as of Tuesday night.
“Mahigit na sa ₱11.5 billion ang naipamahagi sa mga LGU sa mahigit na 2 milyong benepisyaryo na non-4Ps,” said Paje.
[Translation: Over ₱11.5 billion has already been distributed to more than 2 million non-4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries through LGUs.]
More than ₱16.3 billion has been paid to over 3.7 million 4Ps beneficiaries through their cash cards in the first week of April, while over ₱323 million has been distributed to more than 40,000 public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers in the National Capital Region.
With this, over ₱27.9 billion had already been distributed to more than 5.7 million beneficiaries.
Local governments nationwide also received 493,884 food packs valued at around ₱194.3 million.
The DSWD had also provided over ₱100.7 million worth of help to 21,832 clients through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation, or the AICS program.
Under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act, 18 million families shall receive a monthly allowance between ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 amid the enhanced community quarantine for up to two months through the government’s Social Amelioration Program. The actual amount a household will receive depends on the prevailing minimum wage rates in their area of residence.
To fund the SAP, the Department of Budget and Management said it has released nearly ₱200 billion to the DSWD.
