Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 14) — The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) has issued a show cause order against 43 mayors for their “poor performance” in the distribution of the government’s cash aid for families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interior Undersecretary and Spokesperson Jonathan Malaya made the confirmation in a virtual press briefing on Thursday.
“Meron na po tayong 43 mayors na naisyuhan ng show cause order dahil sa kabagalan ng pamimigay ng ayuda,” Malaya said.
[Translation: We have 43 mayors who were issued a show cause order for their slow distribution of cash subsidies.]
Interior Secretary Eduardo Año said the local chief executives will be made to explain why they failed to complete the rollout of the national government’s social amelioration program (SAP) despite the two extensions granted to local government units (LGUs).
“While the vast majority of the LGUs were able to distribute their SAP before the deadline leading to a national pay-out rate of 97% yesterday (May 13), there are still those who were left out, thus, the DILG and the public deserves to know why they failed to complete their distribution,” Año said in a statement.
Año added that the 43 LGUs recorded an accomplishment rate of 79% and below during the May 10 deadline. Eleven of these mayors were from Western Visayas, eight from MIMAROPA, five from Central Visayas, four from the Davao Region, and four from Metro Manila.
The national government initially set April 30 as the deadline for the distribution of cash assistance ranging from ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 for two months as part of its ₱200-billion social aid package to 18 million low-income families affected by the Luzon-wide quarantine.
It extended the distribution deadline to May 10, and then to May 13 as more LGUs asked for more time to finish the doleouts.
The DILG, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, urged the public to report barangay and local officials for incidents of graft and corruption through the government hotline 8888.
