Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 4) — Oriental Mindoro Governor Bonz Dolor on Thursday said there have been delays in the release of salaries to cash-for-work program beneficiaries in the oil spill-hit province.
“Totoo ‘yun. Sa pag-ikot ko, there was really a delay sa pagpapasuweldo ng cash-for work sa ating mga DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) recipients,” Dolor said in a press briefing.
[Translation: It’s true. When I went around, I learned there was really a delay in the disbursement of salaries to the DSWD’s cash-for-work program recipients.]
The governor clarified there are enough funds and that the holdup is due to bureaucratic processes.
He added that the DSWD has committed to deploy disbursing officers from Metro Manila and from Calabarzon to help in wage distribution.
The cash-for-work program provides temporary employment to those whose livelihoods were affected by the oil spill caused by the sinking of MT Princess Empress in late February.
The government earlier said those employed under the program help respond to the crisis, including by conducting clean-up drives, collecting locally available materials for making improvised oil spill boom and absorbent, creating barangay or backyard gardens, and rehabilitating mangroves.
