Senators were disappointed to learn that there is still P10 billion in aid funds for poor Filipinos under the Bayanihan law that were not distributed by the DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) and declared “savings.”
The DSWD announced at a budget hearing in the Senate on Tuesday that the fund was accumulated when four million people were removed from the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) due to “double compensation.” Each beneficiary could get P5,000 to P8,000 cash aid.
According to Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, the DSWD’s failure to distribute the P10 billion is contrary to the government’s intention to stimulate the economy in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The DSWD should give the P10 billion to the poor, which did not receive the second tranche of SAP. Huwag po nating tipirin ang tulong natin sa ating mga kababayan,” Drilon said.
“The government needs to spend within the remaining months of the year to jumpstart the economy. We must spend money to feed the 5.2 million Filipino households who are hungry, provide jobs to seven million Filipinos and give assistance to distressed businesses,” he added.
Meanwhile, Senator Risa Hontiveros, said such aid should still be distributed to the poor because Metro Manila and neighboring provinces were returned to a tighter community quarantine in August.
DSWD declares undistributed P10-B cash aid as ‘savings’
“It is unconscionable na may pera ka, iniipit mo, at hindi mo ibibigay sa mga nangangailangan. Dapat itong ipinamahagi lalo’t nagdeklara ulit ng MECQ noong Agosto nang humiling ng’ time out’ ang ating health workers… May mga nawalan ulit ng kita sa loob ng 15 araw,” she said.
“Also, there are businesses still unable to reopen and workers losing their income due to limited public transportation as a direct result of the IATF (Inter-Agency Task Force) regulation,” added Hontiveros.
Senator Sonny Angara, chairman of the finance committee, hopes that the DSWD will take immediate action to distribute such funds to those in need.
“These were emergency funds after all which were diverted from other government programs so as to react to the damage caused to families and individuals affected by COVID-19,” he said.