The Sangguniang Bayan of Virac will press ahead with its investigation of alleged irregularities in the payout of the P5,000 cash relief assistance for tricycle drivers, including claims that the congressional office submitted a separate list of beneficiaries.
Last week, Councilor Alexander Abundo admitted in a post on his social media page that representatives from the office of Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez came to his office to secure the list of Municipal Tricycle Operator’s Permit (MTOP) holders.
He claimed that when they first tried to get the list from the Sangguniang Bayan secretary, they learned that the list was not yet complete.
As chairman of the SB Committee on Transportation, he said he did not stop there but instead acted to look for the correct and updated list from the Municipal Engineering Office.
Insisting that the Sanggunian list and the list he submitted was one and the same, Abundo stressed that his office was not selective and made sure that all legitimate franchises were included.
Abundo’s comment came after Vice Mayor Lemuel Surtida delivered a privilege speech expressing serious concern over the confusion and possible irregularities over the listing of MTOP holders slated to receive the cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
The vice mayor said he had received information regarding the existence of another list different from the one submitted by the municipal government.
On April 8, Surtida bared, the officer-in-charge of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office, Loriecel Adra, sent him a message asking for a list of MTOP holders with contact details but it later turned out that there was a list that did not exactly match the official list.
“I was surprised to learn that there were claims that some of the names in the list were not tricycle drivers or legitimate MTOP holders, while some of them were either permanent employees or job order personnel of the municipal government,” the vice mayor stated.
Surtida also alleged that there are reports that some of the added recipients were told to expect that they would be given only half of the P5,000 cash aid, with the other half to go to those who made the list.
He told those responsible for the anomaly not to involve the municipal council, blasting them for their lack of pity for tricycle drivers who were working hard every day,
In asking for an investigation of the matter, he sought the presence of MSWDO officials, especially those involved in receiving and processing the list of beneficiaries, as well as submission of the copies of the original and the amended list for a thorough comparison.
The controversy prompted the Sangguniang Bayan of Virac to issue an official statement stating that it had no participation in, nor knowledge of, the preparation and submission of the said second list.
“The Council unequivocally reiterates that it does not and will not tolerate the inclusion of ineligible individuals, particularly non-MTOP holders, in any list of beneficiaries,” it emphasized.
It is deeply regrettable that unauthorized actions by certain individuals have resulted in confusion and have adversely affected the public’s perception of the Sangguniang Bayan, it added in assuring that a thorough investigation is currently underway to address the issue, ensure accountability, and uphold the integrity of the institution.
It is claimed that there are also complaints of irregular listing of beneficiaries in the rest of the 11 towns.
In past statements, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has maintained that the department is ensuring programs like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) are free from “epal” tactics and that politicians are not allowed during payouts.
It is not clear if the same rules prohibit sitting politicians from submitting lists of beneficiaries of government aid although the guidelines for the Cash Relief Assistance, which is under the AICS program, clearly state that the validated list of qualified transport drivers or operators should be submitted by the LGUs, the local SWDOs or the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).