MANILA – To promote transparency in giving PHP200 billion worth of assistance to 18 million poor families amid enhanced community quarantine to contain coronavirus disease, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) agreed to the suggestion to post the names of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries in visible places in the barangays.
In a press briefing on Monday, DSWD Undersecretary for Special Concerns Camilo Gudmalin thanked the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) for initiating the posting of the SAP recipients for transparency.
“The DSWD has been advocating transparency in our programs. It is only proper that the public will know who are the (SAP) beneficiaries. So, we welcome this initiative from the DILG,” Gudmalin said.
He said the DILG’s move would also help the public report to the authorities if ever there are beneficiaries who are in the list but not qualified to receive PHP5,000 to PHP8,000 assistance from the government.
Gudmalin said DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista and DILG Secretary Eduardo Año talked about the posting of the SAP beneficiaries.
“We did it first in Marikina last Saturday, and Secretary Año approved it,” he added.
The DILG has directed ‘punong barangays’ to post the list of target beneficiaries after receiving complaints that some beneficiaries are on the list but not qualified to receive assistance.
Año said it is very important to fully disclose the list of SAP beneficiaries as this will promote honest, transparent, and orderly management of the SAP funds.
He urged the punong barangays to fully reveal the list of beneficiaries. (PNA)
