Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 15) —The Department of Labor and Employment and the Department of Social Welfare and Development are among the government agencies with low budget spending rates during the first quarter of the year.
Secretaries Benny Laguesma of DOLE and Rex Gatchalian of DSWD faced journalists on Tuesday morning, citing reasons behind the low spending.
Laguesma said they have to carefully profile the recipients of DOLE’ s biggest ticket project, which is the TUPAD or Tulong Pangkabuhayan sa Ating Disadvantaged at Displaced Workers.
For Gatchalian, they also have to reassess and determine the rightful beneficiaries of their flagship Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, or 4Ps, before disbursing money.
READ: DSWD to finish reassessment of 4Ps beneficiaries by September
“Kinakailangan namin na magkaroon ng masusing profiling ng mga intended na beneficiaries upang matiyak na iyong mga pondo na nakalaan sa programa ay mapupunta at maipagkakaloob doon po sa ating mga kababayan na eligible under the program,” Laguesma said.
[Translation: We need to have a thorough profiling of the intended beneficiaries to ensure that the funds earmarked for the program will go and be provided to our countrymen who are eligible under the program.]
Both department chiefs also explained the need to balance the faster spending of funds with the proper documentation in line with Commission on Audit guidelines.
At the same time, they assured the public they will spend 100% of their allocated 2023 budget before the year ends.
