The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) today clarified the news reports based on the letter of the Commission on Audit (COA) to Department of Defense Secretary and National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Chairperson Delfin Lorenzana regarding the Disaster Risk Reduction Management funds.

Here are the facts:

On the issue of very poor liquidation of emergency shelter assistance (ESA) for victims of Typhoon Nina in 2016, only P212,195,880 have not been liquidated out of the P1.49 billion. Concerned special disbursing officers and local government units are already in the process of preparing the liquidation documents for subsequent recording in the Department’s book of accounts.

On the issue of P19,373,629.23 being questioned under the DSWD-Office of the Secretary, this has already been settled as of April 30, 2018.

Meanwhile, DSWD-Field Office XIII (CARAGA) has already sent the corresponding inventory transfer report to DSWD-Field Office X relative to the P37.93 million worth of welfare goods not supported by transfer documents as stated in the COA report.

On the amount of P201,735,752.39 being questioned for not having been supported with supplies ledger cards,  the concerned DSWD-Field Office is already reconciling its records between Accounting and Supply Units.  Report of physical count of inventories will be submitted this month.

Sec. Bautista, who ordered an immediate investigation to address the COA findings, assured the public that the Department will continue to adhere to the principles of transparency and good governance.

“We assure everyone that we are safeguarding our tax payers’ money without sacrificing the quality of service delivery,” he said in response to the delay in the distribution of ESA, citing that the DSWD-Field Offices conduct assessments and validations to ensure that assistance only goes to the rightful beneficiaries.

Lastly, Sec. Bautista said that the Department welcomes reports like this but appealed to concerned groups and individuals to get the side of DSWD, if possible, before releasing information. ###