DSWD developing digital tracking system for aid beneficiaries

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is developing a digital tracking system to keep tabs on state aid beneficiaries in real-time to prevent duplication and overpayments

This information came from Guimaras Rep. Joaquin Carlos Rahman Nava on Thursday as he sponsored the DSWD’s proposed P241.56 billion budget for next year.

He faced questions from Philreca Rep. Presley de Jesus over the agency’s efforts to cut beneficiaries who have already reached self-sufficiency, after state auditors flagged overpayments.

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“There’s a new system that is being installed and will be functional by the end of this year, and that will be a real-time tracking system for this beneficiary support,” he told lawmakers.

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The welfare agency runs a range of aid programs from cash assistance to lift households out of poverty to temporary support for those who are in financial distress. 

READ: 79,000 Calabarzon families to be evaluated for possible 4Ps

It implements a community-based monitoring system (CBMS) that gathers data on vulnerable households, said Nava.

But he noted that validation for inclusion in the flagship Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is still underway for about 3.5 million potential beneficiaries.

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And around half of all 4Ps beneficiaries “cannot be traced,” he added after de Jesus asked how many state aid recipients were “untraceable, relocated, ineligible or otherwise disqualified.”

“The continued digitalization of DSWD would provide for these gaps,” Nava said. “Concerns on those mentioned will be outrightly addressed through the digitalization program.”

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The government earmarked P99.07 billion for 4Ps next year. /jpv