The Association of Barangay Council (ABC) in the northern town of Daanbantayan, Cebu asked the Office of the Ombudsman to conduct an investigation on the possible irregularities in the implementation of the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) in the 20 barangays.

In a resolution passed by the ABC-Daanbantayan, it was alleged that the implementing individuals for identifying and listing AKAP beneficiaries were merely political organizers of their district congressman, who are untrained social workers and failed to provide precise orientation regarding the specific requirements as pre-requisite in availing the program.

The resolution added that there was no transparency in the selection of AKAP beneficiaries, which led to confusion and exclusion of qualified individuals.

“Whereas, the implementing group did not coordinate with the Municipal LGU or the Barangay Local Government Units for the proper identification of beneficiaries,” the resolution cited.

The ABC-Daanbantayan also alleged that there was no identified AKAP list of beneficiaries that were given to Barangays and the LGU through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) for verification purposes.

They were not even informed about the venue and payout schedule.

“Clearly, said AKAP program was implemented by the people not mandated by reason of their office and was used to generate political audience and solicit support from them thereby defeating the very purpose and intention of said AKAP program,” the resolution said.

“We just wanted to clarify what is the right process. This is because with the situation now of us, the barangay captains, it has reached a point where we are the ones being nagged by people who are true indigent ones,” ABC-Daanbantayan president and Tapilon barangay captain Mark Anthony Luche told media.

“We were wondering why they would just come straight to ask for a certificate of indigency in the barangay. When it was supposed to be, passing through MSWDO then the barangay. They would ask us directly for a certification that we have no idea about it. They ask these requirements and they don’t have proof to show,” Luche stressed.