DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assistant director for operations Rebecca A. Santamaria on Thursday, April 26, urged parent leaders of conditional cash transfer or Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program not to use their position to campaign for their candidates in the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections.
Santa Maria, during an ambush interview at the Davao City International Airport, said they are prohibited to support any politician.
"Each member, parent leader can exercise their right (to vote) but they should not persuade others to support the candidates," she said.
She warned that those who will be caught assisting a candidate may be removed from the 4Ps program which means all the benefits from the program will be removed such as the education services to their children.
She said that during election season they were given memorandum order from the central office to monitor the members of 4Ps.
She added that employees of DSWD even apply for leaves of absence from office to campaign for a candidate.
Santa Maria said their office continues to deliver its programs such as 4Ps and social pension. However, they have temporarily suspended the distribution of cash-for-work because the beneficiaries of the program are identified by barangay captains.
"This is to ensure that our office and its services will not be used for politics," she said.
Santa Maria added though that the cash-for-work program will resume after election period.