P27M Guingona PDAF going to Capitol

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has granted the request of Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III for the transfer of the P27-million fund of Sen. Teofisto “TG” Guingona II to the Province of Cebu.

Before the May 2013 elections, Guingona gave P20 million from his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) through DSWD-7 for rice assistance under the agency’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan–Comprehensive Integrated Delivery of Social Service program.

Of the amount, however, only P2 million was released to intended beneficiaries in Danao City; Guingona added P9 million for the same purpose, this time intended for the third district of Cebu.

The amount, totaling P27 million, is currently in the keeping of the DSWD.

Yesterday, the Provincial Board (PB) passed a resolution authorizing Davide to enter and sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with DSWD-7 Director Mercedita Jabagat relative to the transfer of P18 million from Guingona’s PDAF.

“A need to transfer the aforementioned fund to the Province of Cebu is paramount to facilitate an expeditious and effective completion of the assigned projects,” read the resolution sponsored by Board Member Grecilda Sanchez. 

Davide’s chief of staff, lawyer Ramil Abing, said that the MOA for the P9 million was already signed but it cannot be used following the presidential directive to suspend all PDAF-related projects.

Abing said that the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) of P9 million was covered by the directive since it was issued this year.

He said that the SARO of the P18 million was issued in 2012 and not covered by the suspension of all PDAF-related projects.

The MOA between the DSWD 7 and the Province of Cebu is the requirement to facilitate the transfer of funds.

KALAHI-CIDSS is a community-driven development project implemented by the DSWD which trains communities and their Local Government Units to choose, design and implement sub-projects that address their most pressing needs.  

Davide wants the funds be transferred to the Capitol so that it can be used for the same purpose of giving rice assistance to indigent families.

Guingona earlier granted the request of the governor in a letter dated Sept. 17, 2013 addressed to Jabagat for the transfer of the funds. (FREEMAN)