PACC: 90% of cash grant for the poor amid COVID-19 pandemic went to legit beneficiaries

Around 90% of cash assistance distributed to low income families amid the COVID-19 pandemic reached legitimate beneficiaries, the Presidential Anti Corruption Commission (PACC) said Tuesday.

PACC Commissioner Greco Belgica was referring to the Department of Social Welfare and Development's social amelioration program (SAP) implemented last year, aiding 18 million low income families nationwide by granting them P5,000 to P8,000 monthly cash assistance, depending on the minimum wage of each region.

"This is a draft since we are not yet done, but the estimate is only 5% to 10% were questionable releases and 90% to 95% were distributed properly," Belgica said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

Belgica said that this was the result of three hearings they conducted so far.

"There are instances when a recipient was listed because they are relatives of barangay officials, or somebody else got the money because it was the contact number of that person that was registered and not the beneficiary, and there were those who were legitimate beneficiaries but cannot be reached with the phone number they provided," he added.

He said they ultimately aim to pinpoint who is responsible for erroneous list of beneficiaries and those who willingly released the money to unqualified recipients.

The government again distributed cash grants to affected communities under enhanced community quarantine this year, but the amount has just been set to a maximum of P4,000 per family.—AOL, GMA News