Bong Go reminds concerned agencies to implement efficient, fair and politics-free aid distribution for the poor as Senate probes into alleged ‘ayuda scam’

Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, during an ambush interview on Friday, January 26, after attending the groundbreaking for a Super Health Center in Mati City, Davao Oriental, emphasized the need for unbiased, efficient, politics-free aid distribution of government programs intended to uplift the poor and those in crises, particularly in light of hunger incidents across the Philippines.

This comes amidst the ongoing Senate investigation into alleged irregularities in the distribution of financial assistance.

"Nag-imbestiga na po kami sa Senado. Ako po, ayaw natin haluan ng politika ito," declared Go, highlighting the ongoing efforts to scrutinize the aid distribution without the influence of political biases.

The senator firmly stated the essence of the aid as a lifeline for the impoverished, "Dapat po ang ayuda, ibigay sa mga mahirap. Kaya nga po, Assistance (to Individuals) in Crisis Situations, mahihirap. Hindi po dapat pakinabangan ng politiko ang para sa mahihirap nating kababayan,” said Go referring to the AICS program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

“Do not be selective. Walang dapat piliin. Dapat ibigay sa mga mahirap nating kababayan,” he added, underscoring the necessity of ensuring aid reaches the intended beneficiaries who are qualified and validated accordingly.

He also expressed concerns over reports of aid being siphoned or reduced, a practice that undermines the integrity of the assistance programs.

"At ayaw natin merong niloloko, ‘yung sinasabing binabawasan… Eh, minsan kontrolado po ng LGU (local government units) ‘yung kanilang MSWDO (Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office). So dapat po walang selective dito. Walang pabor-pabor,” said Go.

“Pera po ng gobyerno ‘yan, ibalik po sa mga mahirap nating kababayan. Kaya iniimbestigahan natin, gusto natin malaman ang totoo para masiguro na hindi nagagamit sa pulitika o korapsyon ang mga programa na para sa mahihirap," he remarked.

During a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Order on January 23, Go reminded DSWD to ensure proper validation and execution of aid distributions to achieve its mandate of uplifting the lives of the poor. This is in response to claims that beneficiaries only get a percentage of the allocated amount of educational assistance due to them from DSWD.

Highlighting anothern significant concern, Go also pointed out the alarming issue of individuals exploiting the system with multiple IDs, "At ‘yung multiple IDs na nakita natin na isang mukha, iba-ibang pangalan… dapat po tingnan natin ng mabuti itong scheme na ito ng pangloloko."

He called for stringent accountability, stating, "Dapat po managot. Hindi lang managot, dapat ikulong kung meron pong nanloloko sa mga kababayan natin."

This call to action by Go resonates against the backdrop of the latest Social Weather Station (SWS) survey, which revealed a troubling increase in hunger incidence in the country.

From September to December 2023, the percentage of Filipino families experiencing involuntary hunger rose from 9.8% to 12.6%. Of these, 11.2% suffered moderate hunger, while 1.4% faced severe hunger conditions. The highest incidence of involuntary hunger was recorded in Balance Luzon at 14.3%, followed by Metro Manila at 12.7%, Mindanao at 12%, and the Visayas at 9.3%.

Si Edelyn, ang batang natulungan ng MALASAKIT CENTER, personal na nagpasalamat kay SENATOR BONG GO