Sen. Tolentino assures there will be no abuse in his LITAW program
PROSPERIDAD, Agusan del Sur (MindaNews / 23 Dec) – Sen. Francis Tolentino assured members of the media here that his proposed project dubbed LITAW intended to help poor families during calamities will not be abused, especially during the upcoming elections.
Tolentino was guest of honor in a ceremony Monday morning at the Datu Lipus Makapandong Cultural Center within the provincial capitol complex here, which marked the distribution of 8,722 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) to 7,225 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) covering over 12,000 hectares of farmland in the Caraga region.
Implemented by the Department of Agrarian Reform, the program writes off the ARBs’ loans with the Land Bank of the Philippines, totaling approximately P289.89 million.
Speaking to local reporters, Tolentino clarified that his proposed project dubbed the Liwanag, Internet, Water, Assistance, and Welfare (LITAW) will only be implemented during times of natural disasters.
A press statement sent by the senator’s staff to this reporter via the messaging app Telegram said that “LITAW is a comprehensive program aimed at alleviating the challenges faced by Filipinos during emergencies such as super typhoons, earthquakes, and fires. It seeks to prioritize the restoration of critical services, including electricity, internet access, and clean water, as well as provide direct welfare assistance to help affected families recover quickly.”
Concerns regarding potential abuse of the law during the upcoming election period were raised by the media here during an ambush interview after Tolentino’s speech.
Local reporters referenced previous incidents in Surigao del Sur where government aid programs – such as the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD), the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) – were allegedly exploited by local officials to benefit only political supporters.
When asked about safeguarding the LITAW Program against corruption, Tolentino emphasized that protecting government aid and welfare programs requires a comprehensive approach rooted in strong legal frameworks, robust oversight mechanisms, and unwavering commitment to transparency and accountability.
The senator highlighted several key strategies to ensure the integrity of the program, which “include establishing clear and transparent criteria for selecting beneficiaries, implementing strict penalties for individuals or groups involved in corrupt practices – whether civil servants, intermediaries, or recipients – and strengthening the government’s monitoring and audit systems.”
Tolentino assured the public that these measures will help prevent fraud and misuse, ensuring that aid reaches those who truly need it.
Tolentino noted that LITAW builds upon initiatives he championed during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the “three-gives” payment scheme for utility bills, which was included in the Bayanihan to Recover As One Act (Bayanihan 2). He said this scheme provided significant relief to Filipino consumers during the height of the pandemic.
Online records of the Senate showed that Tolentino filed a proposed resolution “establishing the Liwanag at Tubig Assistance Welfare (LITAW) Program to low income households in times of calamities and other natural disasters” Sept. 16 last year. It was referred to the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development and Finance the next day, and no further mention of developments after that.
The proposed resolution was to direct the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) “to provide an emergency electric and water assistance (LITAW) in the amount of P2,000.00 to Filipino families living below the Philippine poverty threshold as determined by the latest government statistics at the time of application or to qualified 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) beneficiaries in times of natural disasters and calamities.”
A few weeks later, Tolentino filed Senate Bill No. 2848 titled “The Liwanag at Tubig Assistance Program (LITAW) Act.”
In his explanatory note, the senator said that the main objectives of the LITAW bill are “to provide one-time financial assistance of PI,000.00 for electricity or water services to eligible low-income households affected by natural disasters; to alleviate the financial burden on families striving to recover from calamities; and to ensure that low-income households can maintain access to essential utilities even during crises.”
Online Senate records show that the bill was read on first reading on Nov. 4 and referred to the Committees on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development and Finance. (Chris V. Panganiban Sr. / MindaNews)
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