Newly-registered Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiary Helen Segura, an Ati from Brgy. Lip-ac, San Enrique, Iloilo, has returned the P6,000 cash grant from Social Amelioration Program (SAP) which her husband received from San Enrique local government.
The 33-year-old Segura did the honest act when she was informed that she will also be receiving her emergency subsidy as a validated and registered 4Ps beneficiary in the Municipality of Dingle, Iloilo.
“Integrity is not something to be achieved but it is a character that one has,” said Regional Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre as she commended the beneficiary for her honesty.
Macapore hopes that others will also do the same by voluntarily returning the money if duplicated.
At first, Helen was hesitant to get her SAP since her common-law husband Hemben Gregorio has already received the same grant. But, the couple was advised by their Punong Barangay Elvie Paez that they need to return the SAP received by Hemben from the San Enrique LGU and prioritize Helen’s SAP from Dingle LGU. The Punong Barangay also said that he did not know that the family is an active 4Ps beneficiary of the Municipality of Dingle since the family has not yet received any grants from the program.
During the Listahanan validation, the couple, having three children, is living in Brgy. Lincud, Dingle where they engaged in making “hibyok” brooms and selling it to neighboring towns. Because they are both Ati, they habitually transfer from one place to another to earn a living. However, late last year, the family was transferred to the Ati Community in Brgy. Lip-ac, San Enrique, Iloilo.
When the implementation of the SAP came, Hemben as the head of the family was identified as an eligible beneficiary.
Municipal Link (ML) Jollimae Laurea of San Enrique did the cross-matching of the Emergency Subsidy Program (ESP) master-list with the Pantawid Household Roster, but the name of “Hemben Gregorio” was not found.
On April 20, 2020, Hemben received an emergency subsidy of P6,000. The family then purchased rice and other essentials for the family.
It was April 30, when Helen was informed by her Parent Leader (PL) Melanie Camiador of Brgy. Lincud through the help of PL Lorena Paez of Brgy. Lip-ac that she will be receiving her SAP under the 4Ps on the scheduled payout which is on May 1, 2020.
On the next day, the couple returned the money to MSWDO with the presence of the Municipal Treasurer of San Rafael. They understand that duplication on receiving SAP grant is not allowed. An acknowledgment receipt was also given to them. Upon verification, it was later found out that the name registered at the Pantawid Household Roster was “Himben” Gregorio, (instead of Hemben) the reason why he was not identified as active Pantawid beneficiary.
The household has been registered to the program under Set 9 and their registration was approved December 21, 2019. ML Cristine Caro of Dingle tried to inform Helen through her PL that her household was already registered to the program, however, the couple could not be located anymore.
Earlier this year, the couple has been monitored to have been transferred to San Enrique, Iloilo. Helen was informed by her PL that their household is now an active 4Ps beneficiary and if she wants to be transferred to San Enrique, she may submit her certificate of residency to their ML to update her household information.
The household has supposedly started complying with the conditions of the program particularly the monthly Family Development Session (FDS) for Period 1 (P1) which covers the month of February -March 2020. However, due to COVID-19, the DSWD declared ‘force majeure’ for the 4Ps program from February to March, which has led to suspend the monitoring of compliance that serves as the basis for the computation of cash grants and was also later extended until May.
Further, the couple do not have any contact information, thus, it was difficult for the staff to locate and inform them particularly the update of their SAP cash grants.//dswd (Photo credit to ML Cristine Caro of Dingle, Iloilo POO)
