The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) bared that beneficiaries from 31 local government units (LGU) received the P5,000 aid each which is provided to those impacted by typhoon Odette, according to the agency’s representative Charo Poligrates.

Poligrates was among the resource speakers during the regular Capitol Reports press conference held at the Ceremonial Hall on Aug. 12, 2022, and facilitated by the Provincial Information and Media Office (PIMO).

Thus, there are 125,946 beneficiaries of the P5,000′ aid each coming from  31 LGUs, Poligrates said.

Poligrates added that the DSWD has released a total of P628,825,000 in funds.

“Sa Odette payout nato, naa tay 48 LGUs nga target nga atong bayranan apan sa 48, naa na tay 31 LGUs nga nabayran. Naa tay remaining 17 unpaid LGUs,” Poligrates who represented Jimmy Crucio, the head of the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) field office in Tagbilaran City.

Currently, the local SWAD office is following up the remaining funds for the 31 LGUs with the DSWD Central Office and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“Kami pod sa province, naghulat hulat pod mi sa feedback gikan sa Central Office,” Poligrates said during the press conference.

The issue on the P5,000 aid was a huge election issue as some incumbent local chief executives were accused of hoarding the funds even if allegedly the budget for the aid has been released or downloaded.

This is farthest from the truth as it is only the DSWD is tasked to conduct the payout for the P5,000 cash aid, which was promised by former President Duterte to the victims of typhoon Odette not just in Bohol, but in other affected provinces as well.