Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has defended the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) cautious approach to distributing transport subsidies, revealing that skipping a rigorous verification process could have cost the government roughly ₱2.7 billion in leaked funds.
During a House Committee on Transportation hearing on Tuesday, Gatchalian emphasized that the agency adheres to a “clean list” policy to ensure that taxpayer money is disbursed only to legitimate beneficiaries.
He noted that while digital platforms offer speed, the data initially provided by transport network companies (TNCs) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) contained significant discrepancies.
“Many stakeholders ask why we don’t use e-wallets, especially since ride-hailing platforms pay commissions through GCash. But the lists we’re getting come from transport network companies (TNCs) and the LTFRB, not from us. We have to exercise prudence,” Gatchalian explained.
The Secretary characterized the initial data submissions as “junk lists,” citing a variety of issues including duplicate entries across multiple ride-hailing apps, beneficiaries with expired or nonexistent driver’s licenses, and individuals using slightly altered names to claim double payouts.
“Especially for delivery services, motorcycle taxis, and TNVS, the lists are chaotic. If we had credited aid directly to GCash based on those lists, the government would have lost ₱2.754 billion,” he stated.
Despite the current delays caused by the cleansing process, Gatchalian assured lawmakers and the public that the DSWD is not against digital payouts.
He clarified that once the database is purged of inaccuracies, the agency is fully prepared to utilize electronic platforms for subsequent distributions.
“Rest assured, if there will be second or third rounds of assistance, we already have a clean list. We have high confidence to load it up in GCash. In fact, we already have standing partnerships with most of these e-wallet providers,” Gatchalian added.