A GROUP of village chiefs in Cagayan de Oro City have frowned over the government’s social amelioration program (SAP) mess, saying they should not be blamed for the confusion of the list and disorder in the distribution of the cash assistance.

The 26 village chiefs, who were the same persons who sent a petition to Mayor Oscar Moreno to consider placing the city under enhanced community quarantine (ECQ), said the public should not blame the highest official of the barangay on the “confusion” and “disorderly” distribution of the P6,000 financial aid.

Social media site Facebook was flooded with photos showing people falling in long lines to receive their SAP benefit, violating the social distancing and other measures against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19).

Some netizens also posted status expressing their dismay on the supposed “unfair” list, as they claim that there are unqualified persons being included in the list.

Nazareth barangay chairman Maximo Rodriguez III clarified that the barangays submitted the list of recommended beneficiaries through the Disaster Assistance Family Access Card (DAFAC) forms of the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) which were filled out by residents and submitted back to the CSWDO.

He said it was the CSWDO that gave the barangays the final list of SAP recipients which the DILG directed them to post in public places or in social media/Facebook.

“And for the distribution of the SAP it was city hall and CSWDO, and not the barangays, that made the payments,” Rodriguez said.

The village chiefs insist that they have no hand in the inclusion of unqualified beneficiaries including some public officials and government workers “who are identified as political allies of certain local officials in the city since the final list came from the city hall and CSWDO.”

Rodriguez said the CSWDO and the city hall should have to answer and address the complaints and problems concerning the final listing and the payouts of the SAP cash assistance.