The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now tracking the distribution of cash grants for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in the Municipality of Socorro in Surigao Del Norte, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Wednesday.
This comes after the reports that funds of the alleged cult, Socorro Bayanihan Services Inc. (SBSI), comes from members who are receiving the 4Ps cash aid.
"We have taken stock of the privilege speech of the good senator, Madame Chair, and we took inventory immediately of how many 4Ps households we have there. But obviously, these are initial numbers because it could not be in just one sitio but in more sitios," Gatchalian said during the delibration on DSWD's 2024 budget.
The DSWD Chief said their records showed that there are 74 households that are qualified for the 4Ps pgoram.
“We’ve already spoken about getting our city links and our municipal links to pry into the well-being of these 4Ps beneficiaries in that area," he said.
According to Gatchalian, they will send the furnished copy to the office of Senator Risa Hontiveros, who first exposed the cult's activities, once their backtracking and standard investigation tracks are completed.
He underscored that they take allegations of misused funds or distribution seriously.
"It’s against the creed of the Department when may tumabas, no matter kung sino man yan (whoever violates, no matter who it is), no government official, no private individual can take what is given directly to the beneficiary," the DSWD Chief stressed.
