No politics in helping the needy – DSWD chief

MANILA – Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday stood firm that their offices extend assistance to anybody who asks for help, with or without referrals from politicians.

"Every day naman kahit walang referral 'pag pumunta ka sa tanggapan ng DSWD tinutulungan ka. Hindi mo kailangan ng referral. Kung may referral, tutulungan ka rin (even without a referral, if you go to the DSWD office, you will be assisted. If you have a referral, you will also be assisted)," Gatchalian said in a radio interview on Tuesday.

The DSWD chief made the remarks when asked to comment on reports that the DSWD rejected referrals for assistance from the Office of the Vice President (OVP).

He said they do not politicize helping people as he pointed out that the ones responsible for extending assistance are the licensed social workers, which means their licenses are at risk if they politicize helping those in need.

Gatchalian said the DSWD has already coordinated with the OVP for clarification. He said they could provide screenshots of their conversations to disprove the allegations.

"So, para sa akin palagay ko 'yung mga 'yun ay sapat na na mga documentation para maipakita namin na wala kaming kinikilingang referral or walang referral, or may referral, lahat ng pupunta sa office, tinatanggap naman natin (for me, that's sufficient documentation to prove that we do not politicize referrals, or with or without referrals, we accept everybody who goes to our office)," he said.

"Wala kaming record na aming tinanggihan (We have no record of anyone being rejected)," Gatchalian added.

At the Senate on Monday, the DSWD chief also assured lawmakers that DSWD aid is for all, devoid of any political intrusion.

"Lahat ng nangangailangan ng tulong, tutulungan (Everybody who needs help will be assisted)," Gatchalian said in response to the issue raised by Senator Bong Go on alleged political intrusion in the agency's financial aid distribution.

"Hindi ho nagiging selective ang Departamento natin. Ang mga social worker ho natin ang sumusuri nyan. Pagka nagbigay ho ang kongresista o ang kahit na sinong partner ng referral list, bine-vet ho nating mabuti yon (The Department is not selective. It is our social workers who assess them. If a congressman or any of our partners submit a referral list, we thoroughly vet it)," Gatchalian told the members of the Senate Finance Committee.

To ensure the credibility of the list submitted to the Department, he said the agency's social workers follow stringent measures of validation in adherence to existing guidelines so as to also prevent the overlapping of assistance with other DSWD programs. (PNA)