DSWD: Programs insulated from politics

MANILA, Philippines — With the upcoming midterm polls in 2025, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public that policies are in place to insulate the agency’s programs and services from politics.

According to DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao, the agency came up in prior years with policies that would protect its programs and services from any form of political interferences “while respecting and valuing our partnership and good working relationship with local government units.”

Dumlao added that the DSWD has “mechanisms” to guide its beneficiaries on voter’s education, which is currently being facilitated through the Family Development Sessions (FDS) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“One of the modules of the FDS under the 4Ps is active citizenship. Through that, we inform our partner beneficiaries that their decision on who to vote should not be influenced (by anyone),” she noted.

The official also reiterated that DSWD will continue providing assistance to the needy, “whether they have referrals or none.”

Earlier, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the cash aid or ayuda from the agency should be distributed to beneficiaries only by its social workers.

Gatchalian added that social workers are not allowed to let politicians hand over the cash aid to beneficiaries as they are the ones responsible for the disbursement of assistance.