Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) — The hotline numbers for the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) cash subsidy program are not working, lawmakers found out on Wednesday.
During a House panel inquiry, lawmakers tried calling several hotline numbers where DSWD officials said beneficiaries who have yet to receive cash aid can call to follow up.
Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado, of Bulacan’s 1st District and chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability, attempted to contact the numbers provided by DSWD officials, but was unable to connect to any of them. He suggested that more hotline numbers should be made available to people.
“Meron ba kayong Facebook page na lang na pwedeng doon na lang sila magcomment sa page ninyo? Kasi mukhang maraming ibibigay na number na invalid lahat,” Rep. Jose Antonio Sy-Alvarado of Bulacan’s 1st District asked DSWD officials.
[Translation: Do you have a Facebook page where people can comment? Because it seems that there are a lot of numbers and all of them are invalid.]
“Yung hotline dapat masagot, at kung hindi masagot, dapat ibig sabihin may kinakausap na ibang tao,” Sy-Alvarado said.
SAP 2 distribution 95% complete
[Translation: The hotline must be answered, otherwise it should be because they are talking to another person on the line.]
The committe is currently looking into allegations of anomalies in the implementation of DSWD’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
In its report, the DSWD said it has distributed cash aid to some 13.5 million beneficiaries of the second tranche of SAP. This is 95 percent of the total number of beneficiaries.
DSWD Undersecretary Danilo Pamonag said he would refer the matter to Director Ferdinand Budeng, who heads the department’s operations center for resolution.
The DSWD initially said it would complete the distribution by end of July. The deadline was moved to Aug. 15, which apparently the agency also failed to meet.
“Also for revalidations ito po yung mga binalik sa LGUs for further revalidation, probably walang cell number or walang middle names,” Pamonag explained.
Rep. LRay Villafuerte of Camarines Sur’s 2nd District remarked that it is critical that people are able to get in touch quickly with the DSWD during the pandemic.
[Translation: Also, for revalidations, these are the ones returned to the LGUs for further revalidations, probably because there were no cell phone numbers or there are no middle names.]
Pamonag said some delays are out of the agency’s control, including late submission of a list of paid beneficiaries from local government units (LGUs).
Beneficiaries charged additional fees
Villafuerte also asked the DSWD to look into allegations that remittance centers are charging extra fees for cash aid claims.
He said he was receiving reports that some are charging more than ₱50 per transaction.
“Sa M. Lhuillier, aside sa ₱50 pesos nacha-charge po sila ng ₱100 sa insurance at nagbabawas pa ng ₱50 sa raffle ticket,” Villafuerte said, reading out loud a netizen’s comment during the hearing’s live feed.
[Translation: At M. Lhuillier, aside from ₱50, they are being charged ₱100 insurance and another ₱50 deduction for a raffle ticket.]
The DSWD clarified that as per rules, only ₱50 per transaction relating to the SAP shall be charged.
It added that the Bangko Central ng Pilipinas is now looking into the matter.
The social welfare officials said they do have a Facebook page where people could inquire or communicate with them.
