DILG tells local execs: Voter's ID not required in determining beneficiaries

The Department of the Interior and Local Government on Saturday reminded barangay officials that voter’s ID is not required in identifying beneficiaries in government’s efforts to distribute emergency subsidies to 18 million low-income households in the country.

During the Laging Handa public briefing, DILG Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said the list of beneficiaries of the government’s social amelioration program will be furnished by barangays and then will be submitted to their respective local government units.

Then, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will check the eligibility of those on the list furnished by barangays.

“Sana ang listahan na ito wala ng pulitika, walang favoritism,” Malaya pointed out, noting that barangay officials should not require their constituents to be a registered voter.

“Hindi po ito panahon ng pamumulitika, ngayon po ay panahon ng servisyo publiko,” he said.

Under the recently-enacted "Bayanihan to Heal as One Act," low-income Filipino households must be targeted to receive P5,000 to P8,000 monthly allowance, in cash or in kind, for two months while the enhanced community quarantine is in effect over Luzon and other affected areas.

Malaya said the DSWD will come up with guidelines on how the subsidies can be distributed.

He also urged the public to report abusive barangay and local executives to the DILG’s hotline at 0927 422 6300. —Ted Cordero/LBG, GMA News