DSWD-6 ON CASH AIDS: LGUs should liquidate, return excess amount

By Jennifer P. Rendon

Fact: It’s not the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that will identify who should receive cash aid to individuals and families in areas under the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) in Western Visayas.

It’s the local government unit (LGU) that determines beneficiaries based on the established guidelines stipulated in Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2, Series of 2021 issued by DSWD along with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of National Defense (DND).

DSWD-6 public information officer May Rago-Castillo made the clarification amid complaints from individuals who were not allegedly included in the special Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) granted to all local government units (LGUs) under ECQ.

DSWD’s AICS program is the provision of integrated services to individuals and families in crisis or difficult situation.

Castillo said the JMC No. 2 sets the implementing guidelines for the distribution of financial assistance to LGUs under ECQ.

Last week, the DSWD-6 completed downloading a total of P2,662,244,000 to Iloilo City and 42 towns and one component of Iloilo province.

The amount was based on the 2019 population of said areas.

“We took into account the number of families multiplied by 4. We also considered the population growth in coming up with the said number,” Castillo said.

Based on the guidelines, priority target beneficiaries of the special AICS are affected individuals and families who are suffering from the economic disruption brought about by the declaration of a localized ECQ in their area.

The target beneficiaries may include families who were previous recipients of the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) under Bayanihan 1 and additional beneficiaries of emergency subsidy under Bayanihan 2; individuals belonging to vulnerable groups, such as individuals living alone, senior citizens or Persons with Disability (PWD); and others who have been stranded by reason of employment in the province, city, or municipality under ECQ.

The JMC emphasized that the target beneficiaries, at the time of the declaration of the ECQ, must be physically residing, either temporarily or permanently, or who are still in the ECQ areas.

“We factored in possible population growth and took into accounts non-residents who are renting at a certain area, as long as they are affected. Even those who were employed but their number of working days were slashed were also considered,” Castillo said.

Compared to the government’s social amelioration program (SAP), AICS is more inclusive.

“As long as your means of livelihood is affected, you should be included,” Castillo said.

LGUs should also properly liquidate the amount they would give to the beneficiaries.

“And if ever there is an excess amount, they should return it to the agency so that it could be reverted to the national treasury,” Castillo said.

To avoid bogus beneficiaries, the LGUs are expected to post on their official websites, social media accounts, and conspicuous places in concerned barangays the list of approved beneficiaries, prior to actual distribution.

Based on the JMC, LGUs will create a Grievance and Appeals Committee to receive and address complaints or grievances.

“Through the grievance and appeals desk, those individuals who will appeal for inclusion could be added to the list of beneficiaries,” she said.

Over the weekend, a Facebook group intended for residents of Janiuay, Iloilo claimed that everyone from the town should receive the cash aid for AICS.

Facebook user Ago Borra cited that the fund downloaded to Janiuay town amounted to P63.48 million or enough to be given to 63,480 people.

Based on data from the Philippine Statistics Authority, Janiuay has a population of around 66,786 in 2020.

Borra cited that around 29 percent of the residents are 0-14 years old, based on the population structure.

But the DSWD-6 pointed out that minor dependents are included in the AICS when taking into account family beneficiaries.

The DSWD-6 will give P1,000 per affected individual with a maximum amount of P4,000 per family, to include their children.

“The intention of the AICS is to help those who are affected or whose means of livelihood were disrupted,” Castillo said.

DSWD-6 confirmed that 665,561 families are targeted to be covered for a P2.6 billion stimulus package in the city and province of Iloilo, which has reverted to the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) status since July 16 until August 7.