LGUs warned not to favor, remove households in listing beneficiaries of gov’t subsidies

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday warned local government officials not to favor any households in making lists of beneficiaries in their respective units, or else face sanctions.

According to DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista, local government units (LGUs)  should be responsible and fair in recording beneficiaries of government subsidies.

"Talagang malaking role dito ng mga local government units kasi sabi ko nga, dapat sila ang nakakaalam ng profile ng mga target beneficiaries," he said in an interview on GMA Super Radyo dzBB on Monday.

"At the same time, talagang responsibilidad nila na patas at talagang walang pinapaboran kung sino lang 'yung pipiliin nila at isasama nila sa target beneficiary," he added.

Should officials be found guilty of favoring or removing households on the list or taking other similar steps, the DSWD said they will face sanctions from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

"Nag-usap na kami ni Sec. (Eduardo) Año na kung sino man ang mga LGU o mga local government officials na nakita ng ating mga kapatid na hindi tama ang kanilang ginagawa o iregular na ginagawa ay idulong lang sa amin 'yun or sa DILG," said Bautista.

"Kapag mayroong substantial evidence at talagang malinaw na may hindi sila ginagawang tama, pagkakaintindi ko sa pagkakasabi ni Sec. Año ay right then and there are isususpinde niya," he added. — Jon Viktor D. Cabuenas/RSJ, GMA News