THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)-Davao reported that some Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries are pawning their cash cards, an official of the department said.
“Actually, we received mga news na po sa mga municipalities na naga-pawn sa ilahang mga cash card... last year (2018) naa na tay na note na around 186 na mga beneficiaries na nagasangla sa ilang ATM card (We received news from the municipalities that there were beneficiaries who pawned their cash cards),” Florame Espada, DSWD-Davao Pantawid Pamilya information officer, said in a phone interview with SunStar Davao Wednesday, January 30.
Espada added that pawning of cash cards might be rampant since the mode of payment to the beneficiaries is through the ATM card.
She added that they have an existing guideline, which was approved by the Pantawid National Advisory Committee (NAC) that states that if the beneficiary commits first offense he or she will undergo counseling with their assigned social worker assigned in their area. If the violation is committed habitually, the beneficiary might be suspended or removed from the program.
The information officer said violation does not only limit to pawning but also to other inappropriate use of benefits such as gambling and using the money for vices.
She added that there are still no violators in Davao Region who were sanctioned as habitual offenders.
“Siguro naay mga emergencies or naay mga di kahulat sa every two months nato nga pay out since naa silay pang-collateral maong ginaprenda nila (Maybe it was used for emergencies since the pay-out for Pantawid Pamilya will be every after two months that’s why they use it as collateral),” ESpada said.
She said they are monitoring the beneficiaries through their cash card family development session to ensure that the cash cards are secured by the beneficiary.
The Pantawid Pamilya was made to aid the poor families to sustain the needs of their children aged 0 to 18 years old such as health and education.