Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 28) — Mayors and local executives who fail to distribute cash subsidies to poor families by April 30 may face criminal charges, Malacañang warned Tuesday.
Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. backed the Department of Interior and Local Government in warning local government units to fast-track the release of much-needed cash aid to their constituents.
“Nag-utos na ang DILG, merong tatlong araw na lamang mula ngayon ang lahat ng local government units na ipamigay ang SAP. Pagkatapos po, magkakaroon na ng show cause order kung bakit hindi sila dapat panagutin administratively and criminally [DILG has already instructed that local government units only have three days from today to release the SAP. After that, show cause orders will be sent to ask officials to explain why they should not be administratively and criminally charged],” Roque told reporters.
Roque, a lawyer, added that officials could face charges of dereliction of duty, which he said is “a form of graft.”
LGUs received ₱80.7 billion from the national government to be distributed to 13.5 million families, representing the first tranche of the two-month Social Amelioration Program. Families will receive between ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 a month, depending on the minimum wage per region. Latest data from the Department of Social Welfare and Development showed that local governments have so far released some ₱42.1 billion to beneficiaries, just a little over half the amount.
Completing the sum is some ₱18.4 billion worth of aid to be given to 4.3 million families under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, of which ₱16.3 billion has been released. DSWD published a disbursements tracker on its website, which can be accessed here.
In a separate statement, DILG Secretary Eduardo Año said local officials have no excuse to delay the release of the money because DSWD already downloaded the funds for release earlier this month.
“Magsisimula na tayo ng pamimigay ng second wave ng SAP sa Mayo [We’re about to start giving the second tranche of SAP by May]. Let us ensure that all families left out who belong to the master list will also receive the emergency subsidy this time,” Año said.
The direct cash subsidies to poor households form the biggest chunk of the ₱352 billion which the government has so far spent for COVID-19 response, the Department of Finance said.
