Lacson concerned over possible overlapping of beneficiaries in DSWD projects

Senator Panfilo Lacson on Tuesday raised concern that there would be "overlapping" in the beneficiaries of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD's) programs.

During the Senate budget deliberation on the proposed budget of the agency, Lacson pointed out that streamlining the projects could actually help the DSWD to save some of its administrative expenses.

"Bakit napakadaming programs, eh ang tinatarget natin dito kasi social services ito eh. Parang practically, pareho rin 'yung target beneficiaries natin, why so many programs, why do we have 16 or more programs and each of them, each of these programs, mayroong overhead, may administrative cost kasi there's a program director, personnel," Lacson said.

(Why there's a lot of programs, we are targeting social services here. Practically, we are targeting the same beneficiaries. Why so many programs, why do we have 16 or more programs and each of them, each of these programs has administrative cost.)

"Why don't we just streamline? Makatipid man lang tayo sa overhead cost o admin cost," Lacson added.

(Why don't we just streamline so we can save overhead or admin cost.)  

Among the projects of the agency include the Sustainable Livelihood Program, the Supplemental Feeding Program, the KALAHI-CIDSS, and PAMANA, among others.

During the budget hearing, Senator Imee Marcos, sponsor of the agency's budget, admitted that the DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program had met some controversy.

Lacson said the beneficiaries of the SLP could also be the beneficiaries of the programs being enforced by the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict.

"Baka ina-address na ng DSWD budget 'yung beneficiaries under the Sustainable Livelihood Program yet meron pa rin tayong budget under NTF-ELCAC in the agencies appropriations or budgets na ganoon din, baka pareho 'yung budget nito," Lacson said.

(Maybe the DSWD budget is already addressing the concerns of beneficiaries under SL yet we still have budget under NTF-ELCAC. Maybe these are just the same.)

Marcos responded that the DSWD's SLP is more focused on conflict-ridden areas.

"Ang sinasabi ng DSWD, hindi daw magkapareho kasi nakatutok daw itong amount na ito P202 million para sa SLP in conflict, vulnerable and affected areas, so nakatutok daw 'yan and that's dedicated to that sector and not just the SLP for other marginalized sector. It's locational po," Marcos said.

(The DSWD said they were not the same because the SLP focuses on conflicted and vulnerable areas.) — RSJ, GMA News