DSWD wants barangay exec charged over cash aid deduction

MANILA, Philippines — A barangay official in Davao region is facing charges for allegedly deducting P8,500 from the P10,000 cash assistance of a pregnant woman.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian directed Vanessa Goc-ong, regional director of the DSWD, to help prepare documents needed for the filing of criminal and administrative complaints against the official, whose identity was not immediately available.

Gatchalian said beneficiaries of DSWD cash assistance programs should report people who take advantage of them.

Reports said that on June 6, the beneficiary received P10,000 cash during a payout of the DSWD’s assistance to individuals in crisis situations.

The village official reportedly told the woman to “remit” to the barangay her P10,000 cash assistance.

The woman said she went to the barangay where the official reportedly took P8,500 from her money.

In a viral video, the woman denounced the barangay official for taking her money.

“As soon as we saw the victim complaining online, we sent our social workers to her. The social workers were able to verify her complaint about the original P10,000 cash aid that was reduced to P1,500 after it was allegedly ‘remitted’ to the barangay,” Gatchalian said.

He said the DSWD-Davao office would be the co-complainant in the charges that would be filed against the official.

“Let this be a warning to all. (The) DSWD cash grants are for the beneficiaries only. Nobody, not even government officials, should take part of this cash aid,” Gatchalian said.