‘₱62-M guarantee letters remain unpaid’
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-10 has confirmed that ₱62-million worth of guarantee letters issued to hospitals, pharmacies, and funeral homes in Northern Mindanao for financial and medical assistance this year remain unpaid.
DSWD-10 Director Ramel Jamen said they are still unable to pay their deficiencies as the Department of
Budget and Management (DBM) has not yet downloaded their budget under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and this has affected their services.
Jamen revealed their situation in a panel discussion during the second congressional report of Misamis Oriental Rep. Yevgeny Vicente Emano on Wednesday, December 20.
He, however, said that they are negotiating with the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City for the release of the budget and targeting to pay before the end of this year.
“The budget should be given because it is embarrassing that we have been issuing guarantee letters and there was no budget to pay our funerals, hospitals, and pharmacies,” Jamen said, adding that other regions also experienced this challenge.
He said that they can no longer issue guarantee letters due to depleted budget.
To resolve the situation, the DSWD-10 has coordinated with the Department of Health-northern
Mindanao (DOH-10) to refer eligible beneficiaries for assistance to the DOH Medical Assistance to Indigent and Financially Incapacitated Patients Program (MAIFIP).
Jamen said that DSWD is not the lone agency that provides medical and financial aid. “Primarily, the provision of medical assistance is the mandate of DOH. We just joined because there is a need,” he added.
DOH-10 officer-in-charge Dr. Ellenietta Herunaidna Maria Victoria Gamolo also presented the MAIFIP during Emano’s congressional report, particularly the program’s procedure, documentary requirements, and assistance amount.
Eligible beneficiaries or clients who are in need of guarantee letters this year, Jamen said, may also ask hospitals, pharmacies, and funerals if they can provide a promissory note to enable the DSWD-10 to pay the amount under the AICS budget in 2024.
Emano said that he, Misamis Oriental Rep. Christian Unabia, and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Lordan Suan, approved a ₱7-billion additional budget this year for social services that will be given to the government agencies in the region.
With this budget, Emano said the DSWD-10 can pay its deficiencies.