The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 (Central Visayas) on Saturday confirmed that it distributed PHP12.7 million in financial assistance to residents in this capital city this week amid concerns raised by some that it was politicized. DSWD-7 Director Shalaine Lucero said in an interview that the payouts this week in the different barangays here are part of the PHP4 billion DSWD funds covered by exemptions under the Commission on Elections (Comelec) ban. ‘What we are doing right now is covered under the Comelec exemption under two resolutions, namely No. 07512 released last September and No. 08647, which indicates that the DSWD’s routine services, activities, and programs are exempted,’ Lucero said in part English and Cebuano. ‘The giving of financial assistance for burial, medical, education, transportation, and other needs are covered by those exemptions.’ More than PHP12.7 million in financial assistance was given to 6,353 residents of this capital city at PHP2,000 each. The release of the latest payouts specifically covers the Oct. 20-30 period, thus the DSWD continues with its release of financial assistance to pre-identified beneficiaries according to their individual needs, Lucero said. Dole out, politicized Her statement comes amid complaints by residents aired through the media and to the Comelec here that the activity was ‘politicized’ with only select beneficiaries being identified by incumbent barangay officials. Lucero explained that the DSWD does not have control over the identification of beneficiaries. The barangays are the ones to identify and recommend these beneficiaries to the local government unit that requests assistance from the DSWD, she said. Social workers then validate these applicants before listing them down for financial assistance, she added. Lucero said in case there is any complaint regarding the ‘misuse’ or ‘abuse’ of this government assistance, they could always order an investigation. Meanwhile, Comelec acting provincial election supervisor, Eliseo Labaria, reiterated that they could not act on the complaints they received regarding the cash aid distribution as they do not have first-hand information about it. However, he said, people may file an inquiry or complaint via the Comelec hotline to be attended to by the poll body under its Oplan Kontra Bigay campaign. Labaria also said he was not aware of any exemption of the DSWD’s activities as his office has not received a copy of these resolutions as of Saturday.
Source: Philippines News Agency