‘PhlPost only has P1.6 B in unliquidated cash advances from CCT’

MANILA, Philippines - Records from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) show that the Philippine Postal Corp. (PhlPost) only has P1.6 billion in unliquidated cash advances from the conditional cash transfer (CCT) program as of Dec. 31 last year.

Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said that the figure is based on a report from the Land Bank of the Philippines (Landbank).

The clarification came after a media report mentioned that the latest annual audit report of the Commission on Audit (COA) showed PhlPost had accumulated P5 billion in unliquidated advances.

“It is now unclear with DSWD if the P5 billion is all CCT funds or it also covers other activities of the postal agency,” she said. “Based on our records, it is only P1.6 billion. And they are continuing to liquidate this amount.”

Soliman said the Landbank had contracted PhlPost to become one of its conduits for the distribution of cash grants.

PhlPost liquidates the funds with Landbank, which then furnishes them with liquidation reports, she added.

Soliman said reasons for the delay are the lack of manpower due to PhlPost’s rationalization program and the unexpected increase in the volume of transactions.

“PhlPost was chosen as conduit because it has the capacity to distribute the cash grants even to beneficiaries living in remote barangays,” she said.

“With PhlPost going to their areas, the beneficiaries would just have to spend a maximum of P100 to claim their cash grants.” 

Due to the increasing unliquidated amounts, the Landbank has terminated its engagement with PhlPost in June this year.

Soliman said the CCT program continues to improve and strengthen its operations to ensure that cash grants go to the rightful beneficiaries.

It has a Beneficiary Data Management System which ensures that information about the households is regularly updated and verified if there are duplicate entries, she added.

Soliman said they also have a   fully-operational Grievance Redress System (GRS) which captures and processes complaints and queries about the program.

The GRS conducts validation and assessment of all complaints that they receive, Soliman said.

The GRS has a dedicated text hotline, 0918-9122813, e-mail and social networking sites (Facebook and Twitter) set-up to receive complaints from the public.

Pantawid Pamilya immediately withholds the cash grants of questionable households.

Soliman said they remain steadfast in their commitment.

“We continue to work with utmost dignity and stand by the integrity of our programs and services,” she said. 

FOI bill

Ifugao Rep. Teodoro Baguilat Jr. is urging the House  of Representatives committee on public information to immediately approve the Freedom of Information (FOI) bill.

Thereafter, the House will be able to immediately vote on the bill, he added.

Baguilat dismissed pronouncements of President Aquino and his political allies that the FOI bill is not urgent. – With Artemio Dumlao