THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday urged the public to report to the department families that allegedly received financial assistance under the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) even if disqualified.
Interior undersecretary for plans, public affairs and communication Jonathan Malaya said the DILG will investigate specific claims and take action against individuals and local government officials involved in the irregularity.
“If you have evidence that the social amelioration aid was given to a family that is not qualified, is not low-income, has a job, or beneficiaries of 4Ps who have already gotten assistance but still intentionally received this assistance, that these acts were tolerated by barangay officials or local government units, the DILG is here to act on your complaints,” Malaya said in Filipino.
Malaya, concurrent DILG spokesman, said the people should submit their complaints to the regional, provincial or municipal offices of the DILG so that “we can gather evidence, preparatory to the filing of charges.”
He said under the Bayanihan Act, a local government official who will violate the law can be detained up to two months and fined up to P1 million.
Malaya reiterated the “poorest of the poor” are the priority beneficiaries of the financial subsidy which is distributed by the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the lead agency for the implementation of the SAP.
Malaya also urged the public to report if the cash assistance that they got was below the amount they are supposed to receive.
The approved social amelioration financial assistance for NCR residents is P8,000; for CAR and Regions 1 and 2 is P5,500; Regions 3 and 4-A is P6,500; Regions 4-B and 5 is P5,000; Regions 6 and 7 is P6,000; Regions 8 and 9 is P5,000; Regions 10, 11 is P6,000 while Region 12, Caraga and BARRM is P5,000.
“Bawal po itong hatiin, kailangan po ito ay maibigay sa isang pamilya (ng buo). Hindi po ito per individual pero sa isang pamilyang low-income. (This cannot be divided, this should be given to a family in full. This is not given per individual, but per family who is low income),” Malaya said.
On reports that there are fewer forms for Social Amelioration Cards compared to the number of families in some areas, Malaya said barangay officials have the discretion to prioritize low-income families, members of the informal sector and workers who are under the no-work-no-pay set-up.
“The DSWD secretary has made a commitment to find funds for those who are not in the list,” Malaya said, referring to qualified beneficiaries who may not immediately get their cash aid.
Malaya said Interior Secretary Eduardo Año has ordered local government units to prioritize qualified SAP beneficiaries who have yet to get their P5,000 to P8,000 cash assistance as mandated under the Bayanihan Act.
