SEN. Erwin Tulfo yesterday vowed to push for reforms in the government’s government financial assistance system to ensure that they are not abused by politicians and government officials.
In an interview with radio dzBB, Tulfo said there nothing wrong in giving “ayudas” or financial assistance to indigent families as long as the system is not abused by concerned officials in charge of their distribution.
He said the Philippines, being a third world country, has a high unemployment rate and the government cannot just let the jobless go on with their lives without extending any assistance to them.
He said that during the six months when he was the secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development from June to December 2022, he saw how cash aids helped indigent families cope with their expenses.
The sad thing, he added, was he also witnessed how some public officials abused the system, recalling that in several instances, some residents were not allowed to lineup during the distribution because they were not aligned with the barangay officials.
“I have seen the problems. It [System] was abused by some. But otherwise, it [the distribution of cash aids] is right. We are a poor country. I mean, if everyone has a job, then we don’t need this. So, as along as we have these kinds of people, we cannot turn a blind eye on them and not give them any form of assistance,” he said in Filipino.
Tulfo said this is the reason why he filed the proposed Anti-Discrimination in the Delivery of Social Protection Programs Act so that erring government officials, from the barangay level up to the national level, can be held accountable with jail terms and perpetual disqualification from holding public office once they are proven guilty.
Tulfo filed a similar bill when he was still a a member of the House of Representatives.
Under the proposed measure, it shall be unlawful for government officials and employees to be selective and discriminatory in giving out financial assistance to deserving individuals, especially during times of calamities or disasters.
The bill states: It shall be unlawful for any government employee, whether acting alone or in conspiracy with private persons, who by act or omission, directly or indirectly: (a) distributes or assists in the distribution of cash grants, food stubs, livelihood or relief packages, or other assistance programs to persons other than the qualified beneficiaries; (b) gives priority to or directs another to prioritize their relatives by affinity or consanguinity within the third degree, or other qualified beneficiaries; or (c) excludes qualified beneficiaries to receive assistance programs.
It proposes a jail term of one year to six years to offenders, and perpetual disqualification from holding public or appointive positions.
“Even up to senators and up to the vice president, if you will be discriminatory in the distribution of financial assistance, you will be penalized. This is not only for local government units, not only for barangay level officials, especially if the assistance came from the government, you will be accountable,” he added in Filipino.
