In response to reports stating that the Cebu City government has secured at least Php 600 Million cash assistance from DSWD for the city’s urban poor, the DSWD Field Office VII wishes to clarify the actual status of its livelihood program implementation.

It is true that DSWD FO VII responded to the request of Mayor Tomas Osmeña that referrals from the Cebu City Local Government be accommodated for inclusion in the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). However, the total cost of approved referrals is nowhere near the Php 600 Million figure cited in the reports.

SLP grants are not automatically given to those referred by local officials. During program orientations, the Field Office has always emphasized that referrals and applications for SLP and other DSWD programs are subject to assessment and validation in accordance with existing guidelines.

Last September 2017, Mayor Osmeña and other Cebu City officials were given an orientation about SLP by DSWD FO VII personnel led by the OIC Assistant Regional Director for Operations. Such orientations are open to all interested parties who wish to know more about the Department’s various programs.

Subsequent briefings were conducted in the same month for PO/CSO representatives and potential beneficiaries in Cebu City. Shortly after, the Cebu City LGU through its Department of Social Welfare Services (DSWS) submitted 3,741 SLP project proposals with 66,621 target program participants from 80 barangays.

The proposals were submitted in several batches from October to November 2017. The first batch received on October 18, 2017 consisted of 135 proposals from Barangays Mambaling, Sawang Calero, and Banilad. The last batch was received on November 23, 2017.

In accordance with guidelines, the proposals were reviewed on a “first come, first serve” basis.  Based on validation and assessment results of the first batch, only 11 proposals from Barangay Mambaling were approved and funded after the submissions of the proponent SLPAs were found complete, and after the eligibility of all listed beneficiaries got confirmed.

Out of the total 3,741 project proposals submitted by the DSWS of Cebu City, 3,553 proposals (with 62,155 target program participants) are still ongoing validation and assessment.

For the record, as of the first quarter of 2018, DSWD FO VII has only released a total of Php 2.3 Million to SLP beneficiaries in Cebu City. This represents the full amount obligated for 11 SLPAs from Barangay Mambaling, following approval of their proposals and compliance with the accreditation requirement. The actual distribution of grants was conducted last February 19, 2018, with 230 beneficiaries receiving seed capital assistance.

Aside from submissions coursed through the Cebu City DSWS, the DSWD FO VII has also received referrals and project proposals from other local government officials, various civil society organizations, and non-government organizations, including the CCCWPC (Cebu City Commission for the Welfare and Protection of Children), City Agriculture Office, Pagtambayayong, Kalipi, Kilusang Pagbabago, and groups of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries. The said proposals are still queued for assessment and validation.

The DSWD FO VII firmly abides by existing guidelines in implementing its programs, the SLP is not an exception. All referrals and applications are treated equally and assessed objectively. Applicable guidelines and validation processes are strictly observed, in order to ensure that those who receive the grants are truly eligible and deserving of assistance. ###

 

(30) Views