HACKING THE SOCIAL AMELIORATION ASSISTANCE MESS

Monday, April 27, 2020
DSWD

GOOD NEWS: A good intentioned couple returned the Social Amelioration Assistance money because each one of them had been given a good sum so that's a double payout. Another said that he is a US citizen and so does not deserve to receive anything.

However, right now, the Social Amelioration Program, despite its benevolent intentions, is a big mess. Many recipients are calling up media to complain that the money is being asked of them to return it to the government; otherwise, they will be charged in court. Others are complaining because until now they have not received it. Still others are being told to sign forms, submit xerox copies of their senior citizen's card, like mine, but until now have not received anything save foodpacks.

If you count the number of recipients in a barangay of 4000 families, and each will be receiving P8,000, that means P32,000,000.00, is it not?

So when I heard that the DSWD was going to release the social amelioration cash to the DILG LGU, I became nervous. What? Why? Is there a banker in the barangay who knows how to handle P32,000,000?

Why the barangay which is only used to an IRA of P70M every year, and expending it only for personnel, operations, and transportation, and the like? P32,000,000 should be handled by a bank already, not a barangay with people who do not all have a degree in banking and finance. With apologies to barangay captains who have such a degree. 

Yes, to release P32,000,000 needs a degree in banking and finance. The barangay needs to give only the names to the bank and then the bank will be the one to release the funds. The barangay will give the names and publish them all around in every street to insure that no one is being left out.

What are the qualifications of a bank manager, aside from a degree in banking and finance? Banks I suppose seek applicants with "leadership and supervisory experience, a background in community involvement, good knowledge of banking regulations, an understanding of investment and loan products and excellent customer service skills. Budgeting, organizational and training skills are also desired."

Was DSWD aware that it was going to commit a very big mistake of just following the so-called chain-of-command style in government by releasing the money to the LGUs? 

No. The DSWD was caught flat-footed that it had to deal with the release of the funds and so, to wash its hands of any responsibility, has sought to transfer the responsibility to the LGUs.

Not only was it erroneous to release the funds to the LGUs, the DSWD should have sought the help and advice of the Department of Finance, on how to handle the funds, properly. If DWSD could not hack it, then the DOF should offer its services, or advice the DSWD to release the funds to the Landbank, government institution and then ask the barangays to give the names of the recipients to the Landbank. Right now, the DOF is just watching from the sidelines as the mess of complaints pile up. Pathetic indeed.  

Folks, there is government money available for the people but they are being handled by the wrong people, the wrong assignees. 

And DSWD should stop threatening the recipients that they will be charged in court if they do not return the funds mistakenly released to them by the LGU. They committed a big mistake and so must correct themselves and the procedures pronto. In fact, they should be charged in turn of government malpractice. 

I am glad there are media people who have been very open and accommodating of the complaints of the people. But it is time to correct a very big managerial act and that is of releasing the funds for release by the barangay.

Let us be professional about government social services and always see to it that in these Covid 19 times, we need more prudence *

Assigning the banks to handle the release of funds should be made a standard procedure; otherwise, we will be providing too many tempting instances for crimes like thieving, pilfering, fraud and corruption to government personnel as are now happening in the release of the Social Amelioration Cash. .




*Prudence is defined as the act of being careful, often with money. An example of prudence is checking your bank account before you spend money."
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Posted by orozco.myblog at 12:39 PM