The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has warned the public against a viral social media post falsely claiming that residents may receive ₱5,000 to ₱8,000 in government assistance by filling out a barangay form and contacting certain mobile numbers.
“This information is false and misleading. No such directive has been issued by the DILG. The mobile numbers listed in the post are not official and are not connected to any legitimate government program,” the DILG said.
The agency clarified that the Social Amelioration Program (SAP) is “implemented solely by the DSWD through official, validated channels,” and that the DILG’s role is limited to “local monitoring.” It added that “no such program is currently active.”
The public was advised to “be vigilant” and not to give out personal information or sign documents based on unverified social media content. “Misinformation such as this creates confusion and opens opportunities for exploitation,” the department said.
The DILG also reminded the public that “those who deliberately spread fake information or misuse the name of the DILG for fraudulent purposes will be subject to legal action under the Cybercrime Prevention Act and other applicable laws.”
To confirm the legitimacy of programs or report suspicious activity, citizens are encouraged to contact the DILG Public Assistance Center at (02) 8876-3454 local 6700.
“Mag-ingat. Magsuri. Huwag magpaloko,” the department said, urging the public to rely only on official government platforms for information regarding public assistance programs and services.
