COA flags AICs double beneficiaries; DSWD says no funds wasted

The Commission on Audit (COA) flagged what it saw as the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) double beneficiaries in 2025, but the latter agency maintained that there were no funds wasted and most of the issues had a sound explanation.

In a 24 Oras report from Darlene Cay, COA had flagged 5,000 beneficiaries that received double the amount from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, with around 400,000 people receiving more than their entitled cash benefits.

According to COA, this resulted in P397.5 million more given out than was meant to be disbursed. There were also 6,000 people who received AICS even if they already got aid from the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

There were also more than 1,000 people who received cash aid multiple times, which led to COA flagging P9 million in suspicious claims.

However, the DSWD said that there were no funds wasted.

“COA never pointed any ghost beneficiaries. COA never pointed any deficiency na ninakaw ng empleyado. Walang ganun. And if they point it out, we will see to it na ma-aksiyunan namin… Wala kami ng notice of suspension. They are cross-checking the validation as well,” Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.

(COA never pointed out any ghost beneficiaries. COA never pointed out any deficiency that employees stole. There is nothing like that. And if they point it out, we will see to it that we will act on it… We have no notice of suspension. They are cross-checking the validation as well.)

Gatchalian did not deny the COA’s notice that there were times that the documents submitted by aid applicants were not thoroughly checked. State auditors found that there were some falsified medical certificates and other documents.

“Because of the grind na ang dami talagang lumalapit [due to so many people approaching us for help]. Sometimes, our social workers or development workers are also human beings na subject to human error,” Gatchalian said.

Addressing the report that there were beneficiaries who received up to P10,000 even if they were only entitled to P5,000 in the masterlist, the DSWD maintained that they could receive a maximum of P10,000 within three months.

For example, if a beneficiary asked for medical assistance, the guidelines limited it to P10,000. However, if that person died, the program also had burial assistance. The guidelines allow the issuance of both, Gatchalian explained.

The COA also raised that the DSWD gave away P14.41 million up 20,000 families that graduated from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

However, Gatchalian said that just because the beneficiaries graduated from the program, it did not mean that they were no longer poor. The DSWD gave them assistance to ensure that they do not slip back into poverty.

Addressing the COA’s concern that there was an issuance of AICS during the 2025 midterm elections, Gatchalian said that there were no politics involved.

“Our social workers are professionals. Their licenses are on the line. They will not subject themselves to political pressure because they are the ones that sign the social case intake,” the DSWD Secretary said in a mix of English and Filipino. — BM, GMA News