By Nycel Jane Dela
With the upcoming May 12 elections, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has renewed its campaign against “epal” candidates in Western Visayas.
DSWD-VI Regional Director Arwin O. Razo emphasized candidates and politicians should stop misleading the public by claiming that ayuda (aid) is their personal charity.
During the recent Media Pasasalamat held in Iloilo City, Razo noted how the candidates go around implying that they have power over DSWD programs including the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
There have been numerous complaints from the pubic wherein politicians have threatened them: “Kon indi mo ako pagbotohon, kwaon ta ka sa 4Ps!” or “Indi ka makabaton ayuda!”
But Razo reiterated that it is only DSWD and not politicians who are responsible for reviewing beneficiaries of its financial aid programs.
“No politician in local or national has the power to add or remove anyone from DSWD programs such as the 4Ps,” Razo said.
In particular, the DSWD has a process of identifying beneficiaries.
While incumbent elected officials can refer beneficiaries, DSWD still has social workers to assess if the beneficiaries are eligible or not.
Razo also emphasized that the ayuda is funded by the government, which emanates from taxpayers.
Razo reiterated that beneficiaries should have the dignity as government agencies serve the interest of the poor and not the politicians.
DSWD-6 also urged politicians to stop claiming they are the ones who funded relief operations, disaster response, senior citizens’ aid, or livelihood grants.
With only two weeks remaining, DSWD also warned candidates not to show up in local distribution of ayuda.
DSWD-VI Regional Director Arwin O. Razo (DSWD-VI)
