Soliman launches anti-epal campaign
CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development launched the “Bawal Ang Epal†campaign yesterday in Carcar City, Cebu, during the national launching of its Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.
It was launched due to reports that various politicians and groups threatened beneficiaries of the 4Ps so they can take advantage of their votes in the upcoming election.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said that they are doing this campaign to protect the integrity of their various social programs especially the poverty alleviation program.
With this, the campaign seeks to eliminate the “epal†in the implementation of the government programs, especially 4Ps.
“Epal†is slang for an annoying person who will do everything just to be recognized.
The campaign aims to inform 4Ps beneficiaries that no one has the right to delist a beneficiary as only the DSWD regional and national offices are authorized to do so and only if the said beneficiary is not compliant to the conditions of the program.
“Kung sasabihin ng mga politiko na tatanggalin ka bilang beneficiary ng programa kung hindi ka boboto sa kaniya o malalakip yong pangalan mo pag bumoto ka sa kaniya, nagsisinungaling siya. Kaya try to think twice kung karapatdapat ba siyang iboto sa ginagawa niya,†Soliman said yesterday at the Carcar City gym.
“Tanging DSWD national at Regional Office lang ang may karapatang magtanggal ng pangalan sa Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program kapag hindi ito sumunod sa mga alituntunin ng programa at hindi ang mga politiko,†Soliman added.
The program covers 3.5 million poor households as beneficiaries who are entitled to a cash grant of P500 per month for health and P300 per month per child, but only three children per household will be covered provided that the conditions are complied.
These conditions include pre- and post-natal care, once a month preventive health check-ups and attendance of family development sessions while the education grant requires an 85 percent school attendance.
The campaign’s move will directly eliminate the misconception of the beneficiaries about the control of politicians over the 4Ps.
Department of Interior and Local Government Undersecretary Francisco “Bimbo†Fernandez said they will be supporting the program.
“We will be supervising the LGUs and I issued a directive to the regional directors to strictly monitor the LGUs who will be contradicting the campaign as this is abuse of discretion,†Fernandez said.
Yesterday, the beneficiaries in Carcar City received their payouts for four months, from November until February, amounting to a maximum of P5,600 per family said DSWD-7 Regional Information Officer, Jaybee Binghay.
Soliman said that with their agreement with the Commission on Elections, the payouts for the months of November until February will be until March 15 due to the election ban and the payouts for the months of March until May will be given on June as they will not be giving these cash grants during the election period.
Epifania delos Santos, 51, a widow with eight children, said that the program has helped her in raising her children and improved their status.
“Kung sa una mag-lugaw ra mi, karon makapalit nami og usa ka sakong bugas nga dili NFA. Kung sauna magpalit lang ko’g usa ka sachet nga gatas unya daghanon lang naku og tubig para ipa-inum naku sa akong mga anak, karun makapa-inum naku og gatas nga sakto ang templa tungod sa Pantawid Pamilya program,†Delos Santos said.
Aside from the payout and giving of Bawal ang Epal button pins to the beneficiaries, there was also the unveiling of “Bawal ang Epal Dito†campaign poster at the Landbank Carcar and the unveiling of the “Bawal ang Epal Dito†campaign tarpaulin inside the gym. (FREEMAN)
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