‘DSWD funds not fully used’

CEBU - WHAT happened to the P2.8-million budget intended for the comprehensive program for street children, street families and indigenous people that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 granted to the Cebu City Government last year?

Councilor Margarita Osmeña said it was not fully used for purpose, as relayed to her by representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Services (DSWS) of City Hall.

Of the total amount, only P800,000 was spent by the previous administration.

“It’s underutilized,” Osmeña told reporters.

According to the report relayed to the councilor, DSWS has profiled around 600 street dwellers in the city since the fund was downloaded to the City Government in November last year.

A portion of the amount that was granted to the City was also used to pay for the salary of 10 street facilitators, the report added.

Concerns

Osmeña said she wanted to find out why the funds were not used to address concerns of the street dwellers because she would have wanted several programs implemented for them.

“We have so many project proposals that we would like to implement, but normally our main or first problem is funding. Where will you get the funding?” she said.

In the City’s case, Osmeña said it was reversed, saying it has the money already but was not able to use it.

Osmeña recently met with DSWD 7 after the agency checked on the use of the funds and the outcome of the program, to allow the City Govern- ment to get more funding this year.

This year, the DSWD 7 is set to give another P1.4 million to the City as additional funds for the program.