COA: No proof of P5.3 million DSWD aid to ex-rebels

MANILA, Philippines — Despite being given one year to submit the necessary documents, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) office in Caraga failed to prove that the P5.32 million in cash assistance it disbursed in 2020 was released to 330 rebel returnees.

In its 2021 annual report, the Commission on Audit (COA) said the DSWD field office in Region 13 failed to present a certification from the Joint Armed Forces of the Philippines-Philippine National Police Intelligence Committee (JAPIC) and endorsement from the Enhanced Comprehensive Local Integration Program or E-CLIP committee to prove the validity of the cash assistance.

The COA said the two documents were necessary to establish that the 330 people who supposedly received the cash grant are former rebels.

The DSWD regional office had earlier given assurance that it would coordinate with the head of the crisis intervention sections and regional program coordinator of the livelihood program to obtain the required documents.

In its 2020 audit report, COA flagged the DSWD-Caraga office for its disbursement of P1.28 million under E-CLIP and P4.04 million under the Livelihood Settlement Grant (LSG) as assistance for 330 former rebels.

The supposed payments to the former rebels were supported only with photocopies of the JAPIC certification and endorsement from the E-CLIP committee, the COA said.

“The identity could not be ascertained through the usual and proper channel like presentation of government-issued identity cards,” the 2020 audit report stated.

Under the DSWD’s guidelines, eligible former rebels are entitled to assistance amounting to P20,000 under the LSG and P10,000 under E-CLIP.

In Ilocos Sur, 41 former New People’s Army rebels recently received livelihood aid worth P820,000 from the DSWD.

P287 million livelihood, shelter aid

Meanwhile, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity (OPAPRU) said the DSWD approved an allocation of P287 million as livelihood and shelter assistance for former rebels.

The OPAPRU, through the government’s peace panel, is implementing a normalization program for former Moro Islamic Liberation Front combatants.

It is also set to implement a socioeconomic program for Moro National Liberation Front members. – Neil Jayson Servallos, Artemio Dumlao