Bets abusing DSWD aid program?

CEBU, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development released a media advisory after receiving information that one of their programs was being used by some candidates for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections.

The DSWD has received reports that their Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) was being used by some candidates for their personal interest.

Some of the 4Ps beneficiaries were allegedly threatened to be removed from the list of their beneficiaries if they will not vote for certain candidates. Aside from that, beneficiaries also complained they were being extorted through the use of the program.

Candidates also reportedly tell beneficiaries that if it were not for them the 4Ps would have never been implemented, but Lariba said the 4Ps is an initiative of the DSWD.

Lariba said that there is no reason for the beneficiaries to be afraid that they will be removed from the list because the only authority that can remove names is the DSWD National Office and other sector supporting the 4Ps.

Lariba clarified that the removing of beneficiaries from the list undergoes due process. She said that they also cannot just remove names unless the beneficiary violated some laws or did not follow conditions stated by the program.

The 4Ps is a poverty reduction and social development strategy of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to extremely poor households to improve their health, nutrition and education particularly of children aged below 14. (FREEMAN)