Distribution of social aid and services could be done more effectively and efficiently through the help of technology.
This was DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian’s realization when he came to Cebu on July 3 to ceremoniously hand over to Gov. Gwen Garcia a check worth P40.1 million which will be used to fund the agency’s Assistance to Individuals and Families in Crisis Situation or AICS program.
The funds, intended for over 11,000 poor persons with disabilities in the Province, will be distributed through the Capitol’s tried and tested quick response or QR-coded cards.
“Technology for social protection is being piloted and pioneered here in Cebu. It’s a proof of concept that digitalization can go hand in hand with social protection. The program of Governor Gwen in using QR code to dispense with social welfare is not only graft-free; it’s efficient and very empowering to our people with disabilities and our vulnerable sector,” Sec. Gatchalian said.
The Capitol’s QR-coded card system has been proven successful in implementing various initiatives, such as the 100-million-peso Sugbo Negosyo (where “seed capital” and program prizes are handed to beneficiaries in QR cards) and the 1.8-billion-peso Dasig Sugbo program (where over 400,000 households affected by Supertyphoon Odette in December 2021 received Capitol assistance through QR cards).
“So today, that partnership has been signed and sealed because, more than anything, we want to copy it and replicate it for other provinces to emulate. Other provinces would come to the department, hoping to ask for assistance. But what we do is we tell them to copy the Cebu Model of Gov. Gwen in delivering social welfare. It’s progressive, it’s pioneering, it’s out-of-the-box solution,” Sec. Gatchalian said.
These QR cards safeguard Capitol funds and ensure that they are only spent for their intended objectives, since beneficiaries may only use them in purchasing items that have been pre-approved. Non-essential items are barred and shall not be paid for by the QR card system.
“This is a pioneering idea that we will copy, replicate and push other LGUs to just copy the Cebuano model,” Sec. Gatchalian added.
(𝘐𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳-𝘦𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴, 𝘸𝘦 𝘣𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘴 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘵𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 2024)
