LAOANG, Northern Samar – The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Laoang in Northern Samar led by Mayor Harris Christopher Ongchuan recently passed Municipal Ordinance 392 or “Cash Card Ordinance,” prohibiting lenders/financiers, Pantawid Pamilya, and Social Pension beneficiaries from engaging in cash card pawning, loan collaterals, misbehavior, and false representation. The ordinance was created in response to the increasing cases of cash card pawning in the municipality among 4Ps beneficiaries.

Based on the 2020 report presented by Pantawid Pamilya Provincial Grievance Officer Alden Morales to the Municipal Inter-agency Committee, there were a total of 44 reported cases. After they were validated, appropriate sanctions such as counseling and warning letters were issued.

The Provincial Link, Sandra Roca, said that their activities defeat the real purpose of DSWD in improving the quality of life of the marginalized and vulnerable people. She expressed her gratitude to the LGU for passing the ordinance and urged other municipalities to do the same.

Roca said it will greatly help the Pantawid Program in ensuring effective and proper utilization of cash grants, thereby helping address poverty and hunger in the municipality.

As stated in the National Advisory Committee Resolution 20, “misbehavior of program beneficiaries such as cash card pawning, vices, and misrepresentation are strictly prohibited.” Beneficiaries validated to have committed such offenses will be issued a First Warning Letter for the first offense, suspension of cash grants for one payment period (two months) for the second offense, and eventual delisting from the program for the third offense.

Also stated in the ordinance is a penalty ranging from one thousand pesos to two thousand and five hundred pesos per offense, and imprisonment of one to six months.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officer (MSWDO), and the Pantawid Pamilya Municipal Links and other agencies, duly authorized by the municipal government, were identified as implementing bodies for the proper enforcement of the Ordinance.

To minimize such cases, the Pantawid Pamilya is implementing intensive case management to all household beneficiaries, including needs-based Family Development Sessions, to engage them to become more independent, self-reliant, and responsible.#

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Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo!