THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue to deliver its programs and services, correcting an earlier statement that all releases of assistance were suspended due to the election ban.
That means the payout of cash grants for beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the implementation of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation will continue.
The agency made the clarification Tuesday, April 2, after the Commission on Elections (Comelec) released a resolution last Monday, April 1, approving DSWD’s petition for exemption from the prohibition against the release, disbursement and expenditure of public funds as stated under Section 262 (v.2) of the Omnibus Election Code.
Assurance
The DSWD had also asked to continue ongoing disaster relief, early recovery and rehabilitation efforts as well as undertake possible relief, early recovery and rehabilitation efforts during the election period.
For programs requiring expenditures, the Comelec resolution stated that the expenditures must be limited to an amount equivalent to one quarter only.
The DSWD said that it would not stop delivering programs and services during the elections, adding that it would uphold its mandate to provide effective, efficient and transparent services.
It also assured the public it would monitor the implementation of its programs and services to prevent these from being used by politicians in their campaigns.
Meanwhile. DSWD 7 Director Rebecca Geamala said that as of last Tuesday, they had distributed 20,751 family food packs worth P7.4 million under its “food for work” program in 11 local government units.
In exchange, beneficiaries clean their environment, especially their drainage systems, to address the rise in dengue and measles cases.
Anyone can participate in the program, be they members of 4Ps, drug surrenderers or indigent families, she added.