DSWD help to continue despite PDAF’s absence

CEBU, Philippines - Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-7 Director Mercedita Jabagat says assistance for indigents will continue despite the absence of the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) from congressmen.

Jabagat, however, admitted that the PDAF has helped them in providing assistance to indigents.

“We were saddened by the abolition of PDAF since it was a great help for the agency, aside from the Government Appropriations Act (GAA) fund given by the government,” she said.

She made the statement during a press conference after the first State of the Region Address (SORA) at the DSWD Field Office 7 yesterday.

DSWD-7 Budget Officer Patricia Remolador said that for 2013, their office got P33.28 million from the PDAF of seven senators and 23 congressmen.

Of the amount P23.15 million was already utilized, or a remaining balance of P10.13 million.

She also said that in 2012, DSWD-7 got P61.27 million from national legislators’ PDAF, P34.71 million of which was used. The remaining balance of P26.56 million was carried over to this year’s budget.

Remolador said that from the GAA, P643.155 million was set aside for Central Visayas to fund DSWD-7 programs, including the locally-funded programs and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), for this year. Of that amount, her office has so far used P497.37 million, or an estimated 80 percent.

Jabagat said that if they run out of funds for their programs up to December, they can always ask for more from the DSWD Central Office.

Last Sept. 10, the Supreme Court (SC) stopped the use of the remaining PDAF for the rest of the year while it hears three petitions against the use of the funds.

“Og kulang (If we fall short), we can ask for more. Naa gyud siyay pundo (There are available funds). In fact naa gyuy naka-allot nga budget niana for crisis and disaster. Amo rang buhaton ana nga (What we do is we just) mo-send og request to ask for additional funds,” she said.

She specifically mentioned Cebu City North District Representative Raul Del Mar as the congressman who set aside the biggest amount from his PDAF to DSWD- 7 with P20 million.

The other Cebu legislators who always channeled funds to DSWD-7 are former congresswoman Rachel “Cutie” Del Mar (Cebu City, North District), former congressman Tomas Osmeña (Cebu City, South District), former congressman Pablo Garcia (2nd district), Rep. Benhur Salimbangon (4th district), Rep. Red Durano (5th district), Rep. Gabriel Luis Quisumbing (6th district), and Rep. Arturo Radaza (LapuLapu City).   (FREEMAN)