FOLLOWING the P2.7-million heist involving money intended for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4P) recipients in Ifugao, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the Cordillera Administrative Region said it will ask the police to secure the release next month.
The incident occurred on May 21, at Sitio Awa, Julongan Kiangan when three armed men stole the money which was intended for the conditional cash transfer for the 1,296 beneficiaries in Ifugao.
DSWD-CAR regional director Janet Armas said the state-owned Land Bank of the Philippines has assured the agency that pay-out will be rescheduled once cleared by the local government unit and the Philippine National Police.
"Land Bank didn't want that to happen that is why in our planning we included security. They have reviewed the security protocol and before we go to the municipality we are coordinating with the PNP to lessen the same instances," said Armas.
With the close coordination between the PNP, Armas said police will secure the safety and flow during the pay-out.
"We are still waiting for the investigation (into the heist) and the official report of PNP," she added.
The social development agency declared the victims are personnel of the Lagawe Multi-Purpose Development Cooperative (LMDC), a conduit of the Land Bank of the Philippine which is the DSWD's partner in the release of the cash grants.
In a previous press statement, the agency apologized for the inconvenience the incident may cause. Armas said another meeting will be again conducted prior to the final release of the cash grants to be returned needed by the beneficiaries intended for educational expenses.