THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has warned the public against a viral post about the alleged distribution of financial assistance, commonly known as ayuda, to those who fill out a barangay form and contact unverified mobile numbers.
In a statement, the DILG said there is no truth to the claim that residents may receive P5,000 to P8,000 for complying with the supposed requirements.
“This information is false and misleading. No such directive has been issued by the DILG. The mobile numbers listed in the post are not official and are not connected to any legitimate government program,” the agency said.
“The Social Amelioration Program (SAP) is implemented solely by the DSWD through official, validated channels, with the DILG only assisting in local monitoring and no such program is currently active,” it added.
The DILG urged the public to remain vigilant and to refrain from providing personal information or signing documents based on unverified social media posts.
It also warned that individuals who deliberately spread false information or misuse the name of the DILG for fraudulent purposes will face legal action under the Cybercrime Prevention Act and other applicable laws.
“Misinformation such as this creates confusion and opens opportunities for exploitation,” the DILG said. (TPM/SunStar Philippines)