DILG receives complaints vs. officials allegedly prioritizing kin, allies in cash aid distribution

The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has received complaints against officials who allegedly prioritized relatives and political allies in the distribution of the cash subsidy under the Social Amelioration Program.

In an interview on Dobol B sa News TV, DILG Undersecretary for Barangay Affairs Martin Diño said around 2,000 complaints were submitted to them.

“'Yan ang mga reklamo sa atin, ‘yung daw pinipili ni kapitan puro kamag-anak puro kaalyado,” Diño said.

The Social Amelioration Program aims to distribute cash aid of up to P16,000 to 18 million low income families nationwide in two months with a budget of P200 billion, to help them cope with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diño said he also received a complaint that some beneficiaries were allegedly charged P2,000 for processing fee for the cash aid. “Meron naman, processing fee, P2,000.”

Aside from this, some complaints were of residents who just recently moved residences and were not included in the list of beneficiaries, which was based on the census in 2015.

"'Yung mga bagong salta sa barangay ang hindi agad naabutan ng tulong dahil ang ginamit na listahan ay 2015 pa,” Diño said.

According to him, the department is already resolving these issues to ensure that qualified beneficiaries will receive the subsidy.

The distribution of the cash subsidy has been extended from April 30 to May 7. —Joviland Rita/KG, GMA News