The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public that mechanisms are in place to safeguard all programs and services from any form of political interference.
DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said these measures will ensure the department’s adherence to the conditionalities set by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) when it exempted 28 DSWD programs from the poll spending ban.
“We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate and reassure our kababayans that all the necessary safeguards are being instituted by the department to really protect the programs and services of the agency from any form of political interference,” Dumlao told a media forum.
In a memorandum issued on January 7, the Comelec approved the request of the DSWD to exempt 28 social welfare programs from Section 261 (v)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).
The memorandum also ordered the DSWD’s full compliance to three conditions such as “no candidate/politicians during the distribution of ‘ayuda’ in whatever nature or form; the DSWD must furnish the guidelines as committed by the agency in its public procurements; and faithful observance of these guidelines by the DSWD and its personnel and partners.”
“Based on the conditions issued by the Comelec, DSWD will ensure that they are followed,” Dumlao.
The DSWD official also pointed out one of the agency’s safety nets against politicking is to educate the public on the agency’s programs and services.
“One of the information we deliver is regarding the programs and services provided by the DSWD. Explaining We tell them that the help that comes from the government, the politicians or those running in the elections have no participation,” the official.
This approach, according to the DSWD spokesperson, empowers the public and voters to arrive at informed decisions and actions and allay their vulnerability to political interference.
Dumlao reiterated that the DSWD is the sole implementing agency of AKAP and the other programs of the department. The official also said the department is ready to address grievances with regard to observed violations of standard practices.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “DSWD: Safeguards in place to protect programs, services from ‘political interference’.”