Pols not allowed to distribute cash aid – DSWD

MANILA, Philippines — Politicians, especially those running in next year’s elections, are not allowed to distribute any form of financial aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the DSWD spokesperson said yesterday.

In an interview with “Storycon” on One News, DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao urged the public to report violations of the existing guidelines on the distribution of assistance, including the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program – also known as AKAP – and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations.

“Based on the DSWD guidelines, only DSWD personnel can release the assistance that we provide. Our paymasters are DSWD personnel and they are the ones who sign the documents,” Dumlao said in Filipino.

“They are the ones who receive the case for disbursement and they are also the ones who give these to our clients and beneficiaries,” she added.

Dumlao cited a 2021 memorandum circular on “strengthening partnership with stakeholders during election and non-election periods,” which set some guidelines on the conduct of DSWD programs.

It specifically prohibited the use of DSWD activities “in any manner that could in any way influence the vote of a person or the results of the election.”

These include the display of election paraphernalia, distribution of election materials, playing of campaign jingles, political campaigning of a candidate and misrepresentation of the source of the assistance.

Despite these guidelines, Dumlao admitted that politicians are sometimes present during payout activities.

“Some legislators are on the ground to exercise oversight functions and some local partners are present to provide logistics support to the DSWD… But we always tell our beneficiaries that they have nothing to do with the distribution,” she said.

The DSWD official said they also guide their field offices on how to deal with politicians who wish to join the distribution of assistance from the agency.

“Our field office personnel are able to explain in the most respectful manner… that as much as possible, they just observe and not speak,” she explained.

“While we value and nurture our relationship with our local partners, we have to ensure that the beneficiaries are well-informed that the assistance came from the national government and political actors who are present at some of the activities that we are conducting have nothing to do with it,” added the DSWD official.

She said there are grievance mechanisms that will allow the public to file complaints and report violations of their guidelines.

DSWD also plans to review its policy to strengthen the internal mechanisms, with Dumlao stressing that DSWD is an “apolitical” agency.