MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to investigate allegations that government assistance or ayuda is being politicized.
According to DSWD secretary Rex Gatchalian, he will get in touch with the Office of the Vice President over the allegations made by Sara Duterte-Carpio in a Senate hearing on Tuesday.
“Hindi ko alam ‘yung buong konteksto dahil nasa kabilang hearing ako. First things first, I will get in touch with her office para makuha lahat ng detalye para maimbestigahan natin nang mabuti,” Gatchalian said.
Duterte-Carpio said in a Senate hearing for the 2025 proposed budget of the OVP that there were instances that DSWD declined to extend financial assistance to those endorsed by the OVP.
“Kapag meron po kaming nire-refer o binibigay na endorsement sa DSWD, kadalasan ng sagot sa amin [ay] hindi pwede dahil galing ‘yan sa Office of the Vice President at kalaban ‘yan. Minsan po totoo ‘yan, napupulitika ang assistance para sa ating mga kababayan,” Duterte-Carpio rsaid.
Gatchalian also gave the assurance that the DSWD extends assistance to anyone needing it, whether one has a referral or not.
“Meron kasi tayong policy roon sa DSWD na lahat ng pupunta sa aming tanggapan, whether may referral, walang referral, basta nangangailangan at tumuntong sa aming tanggapan, tutulungan at tutulungan namin ‘yan,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD Secretary also said that part of the investigation is aimed at establishing whether any DSWD personnel committed a violation of the said policy.
“Right now, ang gagawin namin is to get in touch with the OVP to get the full details para maimbestigahan namin kung may infraction na nagawa ang aming tao,” Gatchalian said./PN
