Gatchalian: DSWD helps all persons in crisis, even without referrals

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Wednesday the agency is ready to help persons who need assistance even if they do not have referral letters from public officials.

Gatchalian made this remark in response to Vice President Sara Duterte's claim during a Senate budget hearing on Tuesday that there were instances when the DSWD declined to extend financial aid to individuals endorsed by the Office of the Vice President.

"Mayroon kasi tayong policy sa DSWD na lahat ng pupunta sa aming tanggapan, whether may referral o walang referral, basta nangangailangan at tumuntong sa aming tanggapan, tutulungan at tutulungan natin (We have a policy in DSWD that everyone who comes to our office, whether they have a referral or not, so long as they are in need, we help them)," he said in a media interview before the DSWD's budget deliberation at the House of Representatives.

Gatchalian said the department would investigate the alleged politicizing of government assistance.

"Ang gagawin namin is to get in touch with her office to get the full details para ma-imbestigahan namin kung may infraction na nagawa ang aming tao (What we are going to do is to get in touch with VP Sara's office to get the full details so that we could investigate if there were infractions done by our people)," he said.

During the presentation of the DSWD's proposed budget for 2025, the majority of the House Committee on Appropriation members expressed their manifestation of support for Gatchalian for being able to respond to their queries.

The DSWD chief was joined by members of the department's executive and management committees, directors of the department's 16 field offices, and heads of its attached and supervised agencies. (PNA)