DILG, DSWD team up to ensure no ‘politicking’ with PPP

THE regional offices of the departments of interior and social welfare have teamed up to ensure that local partisan politics will not mar the National Government's relief program, especially with the midterm elections drawing near.

In a statement sent through email, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) sought the assistance of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) in its information campaign to “insulate” the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (Pantawid Pamilya) during the election campaign period in the region.

DILG-Northern Mindanao Director Rene Burdeos issued a two-page memorandum ordering provincial and city directors and municipal local government operations officers in the region to assist the DSWD field office in safeguarding and preserving the program against any political party or candidate who wants to take advantage of the Pantawid Pamilya Program.

“You are, therefore, ordered to zealously assist in the information campaign and communication drive of the DSWD pertaining to the nature as well as its proper implementation, within your territorial areas of responsibilities and concerns, of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and coordinate with your respective local government units in the furtherance of the same,” Burdeos' order reads in part.

“You are ordered to keenly assist in safeguarding...(the program) against the commission and perpetration of prohibited acts prescribed in the Bawal ang Epal Dito campaign,” the order continues.

Under the program's adjunct information campaign -- Bawal ang Epal Dito -- the DSWD targets to disseminate the proper selection and delisting processes to Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries.

DSWD-Northern Mindanao Director Araceli Solamillo said this seeks to empower the beneficiaries to know their rights and to be vigilant of individuals or groups who plan to use the program to push their own political agenda.

In a text message, Pantawid Pamilya Information Officer Oliver Inodeos posited that “with the upcoming (midterm) elections, some politicians may use the program to gain leverage.”

“We encourage the program beneficiaries to continuously give feedback through our Grievance Redress System (GRS) if some politicians are claiming to have the authority to enlist and delist them from the program,” Inodeos said.

Solamillo added that only the DSWD can delist a beneficiary, which is based on the latter's compliance to the conditions of the program.