MANILA, Nov. 3 (PNA)–The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday said it is open for inquiry on the disbursement of its program funds.
“The Department welcomes any forum or congressional inquiry where we can show where the DSWD budget has been spent,” ADSWD Asst. Secretary Javier Jimenez said in reaction to plea of Leyte Rep. Ferdinand M. Romualdez for auditing of anti-poverty programs.
The lawmaker had earlier dared the Department to make a public disclosure on the disbursement of program funds.
Jimenez said that the Consolidated Annual Audit Reports (CAAR) of the Commission on Audit (COA) were always available on its website.
Jimenez said that the 4.4 million beneficiaries of 4Ps were real and not conjured from thin air.
He also said that in response to the call to see how many people were behind the said numbers, the Department would launch a twitter campaign in the coming days where Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries tweet a picture of their families, their Pantawid ID’s, and their household numbers as proof of their existence.
He said that department was aware that the Pantawid Pamilya would be mentioned in the coming election period an opportunity to show the faces and families behind the statistics.
He added that families would share their stories and successes as concrete achievements of keeping children in school and keeping them healthy.(PNA)