DSWD reminder: Cash ‘ayuda’ not for gadgets
Critics of the government’s various “ayuda” schemes may not find this amusing.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday reminded beneficiaries of its cash assistance program that the aid being handed out was meant for basic necessities.
The DSWD issued the statement as it took note of social media posts showing that people enrolled in its Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport (Uplift) program bought gadgets instead.
“We are saddened by viral posts or videos such as those, especially as there are those in crisis needing assistance,” said the DSWD spokesperson, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao.
“There are vulnerable individuals out there who rely on our social welfare programs as their last source of help. Casting doubt or making fun of our programs is a direct hit to those individuals seeking cash assistance,” she added.
Nonessentials
According to the agency, the posts “sparked some comments from netizens who deplored the fact that some beneficiaries are just using the money for nonessential and fancy items.”
“We know that those posts may just be for content on social media, showing how after getting financial aid they go to the mall or gadgets store. But we appeal to the beneficiaries to also give respect to the program and to what you represent,” said Dumlao.
“If it will cause misunderstanding, let’s be responsible not to turn the program into content,” she added.
The Uplift was established by the Marcos administration through Executive Order No. 110, which the President signed on March 24 this year in response to economic disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict.
Under the program, households already covered by the DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and the Walang Gutom Program will receive a one-time cash aid of P2,000.
Meanwhile, poor and near-poor households identified through the Philippine Statistics Authority’s community-based monitoring system, as well as low-income Social Security System members, will receive P2,000 monthly for six months.
‘Insensitive’
“Our Uplift cash assistance is only enough to support and help with daily expenses. It will not be enough to buy luxury items. Even still, misleading posts affect the public, that’s why for the qualified beneficiaries, please make use of the cash aid for your basic needs,” said Dumlao in Tuesday’s statement.
“Let us meaningfully use the help we receive from the programs of the agency, and let’s not make fun of it because we become insensitive to those who truly need financial assistance,” she added.
The official also warned the public against scams that claim to provide cash assistance, which usually involve suspicious online links, messages from unregistered mobile numbers and unverified digital receipts that request processing fees or one-time passwords.
