The Commission on Audit has called out the Department of the Interior and Local Government for failing to release in 2022 the P1.156 million death benefit claims for barangay officials in the Ilocos Region.

State auditors found that as of January and February this year, only P640,000 had been released to the beneficiaries of the total P1.156 million in death benefit claims.

The remaining P516,000 was yet to be released by the Pangasinan Provincial Office.

CoA pointed out that the late release of the claims not only deprived the beneficiaries of immediate assistance from the government but also violated Republic Act 6942.

Under the law, the respective families of deceased barangay officials will receive P20,000 for a barangay captain, and P10,000 for any other barangay official, including the Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson.

The law also provides P2,000 as a burial benefit apart from the death benefits. The DILG is responsible for administering such claims in accordance with Executive Order 115.

Pursuant to EO 115, the DILG shall distribute the claims to the eligible beneficiaries within seven working days of the receipt of the fund allocation.

However, audit findings showed that as of year-end 2022, only P1,156,000, or 31.14 percent, of the P3,712,000 death benefit claims remained unreleased to the beneficiaries.

"The unreleased death benefit claims already exceeded the prescribed period of payment under DILG MC 2018-17, ranging from 10 to 296 days," CoA said.

Upon inquiry with the disbursing officers of the provincial offices, CoA said the primary reason for the non-processing of the check payments for release to the beneficiaries was the incomplete or non-submission of documentary requirements by the DILG Municipal Office.

CoA instructed the DILG regional director to coordinate with city or municipal local government office executives to fast-track document submission for prompt check preparation for the remaining unreleased death benefit claims.

State auditors also ordered the complete, proper, and timely processing of the claims and the release of the benefits to the beneficiaries within the prescribed period.

In response, the DILG informed auditors that the remaining P1.156 million in death benefits had already been released to the respective beneficiaries as of 30 April 2023.