BY MAE SINGUAY
BACOLOD City – The city government is urging the public to avoid fraudulent activities when seeking financial assistance.
Engineer Mae Cuaycong, the focal person for the Bacolod City Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP), announced the initiation of an investigation following the discovery of numerous prescriptions from a single doctor submitted to the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD).
These prescriptions are required to avail medical assistance under the city government’s “Bayad Agad” program, which supports individuals in crisis.
Cuaycong reported that attempts to contact the number provided on the prescriptions were unsuccessful as calls went unanswered.
She appealed to applicants not to falsify documents, emphasizing that the local government is intensifying its verification processes to prevent illegal activities.
“We hope it’s unnecessary, because if they truly need help, the city will provide it as long as their documents are genuine and correctly submitted,” said Cuaycong.
She also highlighted the discovery of redundant applications, such as cases where multiple family members separately sought aid for a single individual’s medical needs, aiming to receive multiple benefits for one case.
To combat such issues, the city has enhanced its documentation processes, allowing for better tracking and preventing duplicate claims, ensuring fairness and efficiency in the distribution of aid./PN
