The Commission on Audit has revealed the Department of Social Welfare and Development owes Land Bank of the Philippines P82.72 million in unpaid service fees of accredited private conduits for the government’s dole-out program dubbed as the Conditional Cash Transfer.
The COA Commission Proper, in a decision dated Jan. 27, 2020, granted the petition for money claim filed by the LandBank which covers CCT payouts in 2013 and prior years.
But it adjusted DSWD’s obligation to P82.72 million which is lower than LandbBank’s original claim of P87.05 million and the amended claim of P92.27 million.
LandBank filed the petition for money claim on Nov. 13, 2015 and the DSWD acknowledged its obligation but explained that but the account has to validated by government auditors to release the money.
The COA said the only issue to be decided is how much is DSWD’s actual obligation.
“There is no question that LBP is entitled to payment of the service fees of CCT conduits. The obligation to pay LBP for the same has also been admitted by the DSWD in its Answer dated Jan. 11, 2016. In view of the foregoing, this Commission resolves to grant the Petition for Money Claim in the reduced amount,” the COA pointed out. Maricel V. Cruz
The COA noted the obligation was based on a July 14, 2011 memorandum of agreement between DSWD and the state-owned bank that authorized the latter to “identify, negotiate, accredit, and enter into separate agreements” with qualified CCT conduits to help distribute CCT aid to household beneficiaries.
Under the same agreement, it is the LandBank that was supposed to handle the service fees and remit such payments to the conduits’ accounts.