BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occidental, Philippines – Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia has sought the help of DSWD Regional Director Evelyn Macapobre in appealing the reduction of the number of beneficiaries for the social amelioration grant from the national government.
Leonardia, in a letter titled “Protest letter on the reduction of beneficiaries for the social amelioration grant from the national government thru the DSWD,” said he was “shocked” after being informed by local social services head Pacita Tero that the quota of 103,658 beneficiary-families in Bacolod that were supposed to receive the grants had been slashed.
The original number, Tero said, was slashed to only 98,143 families.
Leonardia said it was “made clear to us previously that the quota of 103,658 families EXCLUDES those already enjoying their social amelioration grants” such as 4Ps beneficiaries, and those receiving similar grants from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor and Employment.
The chief executive said the change in the quota means barangay captains “will now have to eliminate” 5,515 families from their lists which were prepared on the basis of the original quota.
“We protest this belated and untimely adjustment in the strongest terms,” Leonardia said, as he pointed out that the original quota was “already short of our need” and thousands of families had already been made to believe that they can expect assistance from the national government.
“This is excruciatingly painful to the barangay officials who will have to make this cut and, more so, to those families whose expectations will be crushed,” Leonardia said.
Leonardia further requested for an immediate written explanation from RD Macapobre on why the quota was cut without any warning, and after the barangay captains had already identified the families concerned who are, by now, naturally expecting their share.*/CITY PIO