By Edalyn B. Acta
A former Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member of the Municipality of Panay is allegedly behind the releasing of payout of Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) funds for a ghost cash-for-work program.
Mayor Jonathan “Sonny” Besa is awaiting the results of the DOLE investigation to probe deeper into what is deemed to be anomalous transaction that used money of DOLE’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged Workers (TUPAD) program.
Citing a complaint affidavit, Besa said that the former SB member was the one who allegedly received bulk of the money of each of the supposed 30 TUPAD beneficiaries from Barangay Tanza Norte.
The affidavit further alleged that a barangay kagawad and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) chairperson were working on behalf of the SB member to collect money from 30 people.
From the original P5,500 released to the 30 people, the barangay kagawad and SK chairperson allegedly took P4,500 and P1,000 was left.
But Besa said that the complainant claimed that they received the money as payout, but did not work at all.
Under DOLE’s TUPAD program, money can only be released when work has been done by a particular person.
DOLE’s TUPAD is a community-based assistance package that provides emergency employment for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers.
Besa said what allegedly transpired was a violation and it was worsened by the allegations that the two barangay officials and former SB member worked together to get the money.
While the money was allegedly returned, Besa said there must be accountability to those behind the anomalous transactions.
Besa said that this should not happen again, especially during his administration.
