The Mindanao Examiner Regional Newspaper
ARMM holds LGU assembly on social welfare protection
SULU - The Department of Social Welfare and Development of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (DSWD-ARMM) conducted its first round of Local Government Unit (LGU) Assembly on Social Welfare Protection for the province of Sulu.
The recent gathering convened local government officials as well as other groups, including beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), parent leaders, and officials of partner agencies such as the Integrated Public Health Office (IPHO) and the Department of Education (Deped).
The assembly discussed variations of irregularities in the implementation of the 4Ps, and the do's and don’ts in carrying out the program.
Atty. Laisa Alamia, ARMM Executive Secretary and concurrent DSWD-ARMM Secretary, said that 4Ps stakeholders, especially officials who will be caught committing anomalous acts, will be immediately removed from their respective posts and could even face criminal charges. The Philippine National Police and the National Bureau of Investigation, she said, will be helping in the campaign. Sec. Alamia said that a similar activity will also be conducted in the other provinces of the ARMM to improve 4Ps’ implementation and strengthen the drive against irregularities in government programs and projects. “We have high hopes that this campaign will be successful so that we can achieve the progress and development that we aspire in ARMM,” she said.
The LGU assembly is one of the ARMM government’s response to Martial Law Instruction Order No. 01 that seeks to promote good governance. The participation of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other agencies such as IPHO and Deped is critical in checking and securing the successful delivery of basic services to 4Ps' beneficiaries.
Lea Abduhasad Daud, 44, a 4Ps beneficiary and parent leader from Tulay, Jolo said that the assembly is an effective way of preventing corruption in 4Ps implementation.
“Masaya kami na merong ganitong kampanya ang gobyerno natin. Although, dito sa area namin ay wala naman kaming problema sa tuwing may payout kami dahil tapat naman ang aming mga opisyales, suportadong suportado namin ang kampanyang ito,” Daud said.
“This is a wake-up call and a reminder to all of us that we should abide by the policies and guidelines in implementing the programs of the government,” said Mayor Abraham Burahan of Hadji Panglima Tahil town.
“As the mayor of Hadji Panglima Tahil, I give my full support to this campaign to make sure that those deserving people are the ones who will benefit from 4Ps; those we classify as poorest of the poor,” he added.
Sulu has some 93,734 beneficiaries of the program, out of 415,000 beneficiaries in the entire ARMM region. The event ended with the signing of the a pact on the ‘Commitment Wall’ with participation from local government officials, representatives of partner line agencies, and other stakeholders who attended the assembly.
The pact, upholding clean implementation of the program thus supporting the ARMM government in strengthening the fight against irregularities in 4P's implementation, is posted on the Commitment Wall.