DSWD dismisses VP Sara's allegation of politicizing financial aid

By Paula Valero

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) denied Duterte's office's complaints about them politicizing the financial aid distribution because the agency turned down their referrals for assistance.

“Ang aming tanggapan, nakabukas para sa lahat… May referral o wala, lahat ‘yan tinutulungan natin, basta mapatunayan na may pangangailangan,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said.

“Walang pinupulitika sa DSWD. Mga social workers natin ang sumusuri kung tutulungan o hindi, kung kailangan o hindi,” he added.

According to the Office of the Vice President (OVP) Director for Operations Norman Baloro, the complaint was due to DSWD's decline in a request for aid since a group's livelihood was affected by African swine fever.

"The request was denied because the DSWD claimed that they cannot do 'mass payout,' and yet they can do it in other areas, together with other politicians," Baloro said.

According to Baloro, referrals from OVP satellite offices in Negros, Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor have yet to be considered.

"There is no clear explanation provided by the DSWD to the OVP referred clients from the Satellite Offices on the delay or inaction on the requests," Baloro said.

"To dismiss these unserved clients is to ignore the real challenges many Filipinos face in accessing social services. We call for DSWD's immediate action to address these gaps and fulfill the government's obligation to provide aid to every Filipino," he added.

Screenshots from a DSWD assistant secretary show evidence that the OVP referrals were not ignored.

Gatchalian addressed an incident in which Zamboanga City District Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso allegedly kneeled in front of a DSWD official to release aid for 1,500 beneficiaries.

“In-assure naman siya na magaganap ang payout, pero nagpumilit kasi siya na sa araw na ‘yun, e hindi pa nga tapos ang pagre-review,” the DSWD chief said.

“Si Congressman Olaso, doon sa hearing, sabi niya ‘pondo ko.’ …Yun ang nagiging problema. Sa isip ni Congressman Olaso, may pondo siya sa amin. Wala siyang pondo sa amin,” he added.