Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reassured Filipinos on Thursday that the government’s financial aid programs will be insulated from politics, especially during the campaign period.
On the sidelines of its event with the Department of Tourism (DOT) in Pasay City, Gatchalian emphasized that social workers will be on top of implementing all state-funded welfare programs, from the assessment of qualified beneficiaries to the distribution of the aid itself.
“Hindi ito magagamit sa pulitika dahil ang nag-a-assess kung sino ang qualified o hindi qualified, kung magkano ang ibibigay, ay ang mga social workers natin (This will not be used for politics because the ones assessing our beneficiaries and how much they will receive will be our social workers),” he said.
Gatchalian expressed confidence in the training and professionalism of social workers, who are the ones engaging with potential beneficiaries.
He assured the public that the DSWD financial aid programs will continue despite the election ban.
The Commission on Elections (Comelec) already advised the DSWD against letting politicians join its relief missions. It has also ordered the suspension of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) during the campaign period.
The poll body, however, exempted 28 state-funded social welfare programs from the election spending ban provided that politicians running in local and national positions this year are barred from participating in any DSWD financial aid distribution activity.
On Thursday, Gatchalian signed a memorandum of agreement with DOT Secretary Christina Frasco on “to extend support to tourism workers affected by calamities.” This allows the DSWD to “provide financial assistance” for the economic recovery of individuals relying on the tourism industry.
