COA: DSWD spent P3.1M on "unqualified" patients

CEBU - The Commission on Audit said the Cebu City office of Department of Social Welfare and Development disbursed P3.1 million from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of congressmen as financial assistance to patients who are not really indigents.

According to the state auditors who examined the financial transactions of DSWD-7 for last year, the agency granted financial assistance to persons --even if they were not really indigents-- for having been admitted to private hospitals, some of them staying in air-conditioned rooms with rates ranging from P920 to P2,200 a day.

COA said the DSWD should strictly enforce the rule that only indigents are to be granted financial assistance promised them by Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar.

“We recommend that DSWD strictly adhere to regulations on accreditation and screening of beneficiaries and project proposals in the utilization of PDAF to ensure that such funds are utilized within the mandates of DSWD and to monitor and strictly enforce compliance by recipients of financial assistance,” the COA report stated.

The records also showed that the questionable expenditures of the congressmen’s PDAF also happened in other regions of the country and COA learned that the overall amount involves P41.1 million.

In Cebu City, COA also found out that P405,521 entrusted to DSWD was used to pay the salaries and honoraria of employees of Halfway House for Recovering Drug Patients, which the state auditor said is not allowed under Budget Circular No. 476.

Del Mar and Cebu City south district Rep. Antonio Cuenco have entrusted millions of PDAF with the DSWD to be used to help indigent persons with their health needs, but the state auditors observed that the fund was spent even on those who are not indigents.

But Del Mar said there is nothing illegal even if the DSWD disbursed huge amount from their PDAF for the financial assistance.

According to Del Mar there are times when all beds in the charity ward are fully occupied and patients have no other alternative but to occupy private rooms temporarily and later transfer to the wards when beds are available. –Rene U. Borromeo/BRP (THE FREEMAN)