An official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday, April 24 assured the public that the agency’s programs and services are “insulated from politics” and delivered with the utmost professionalism.

DSWD’s response came after agency officials, led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, were grilled in a Senate hearing on April 23 about the alleged “selective and delayed payout activities” under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

“We have guidelines that we follow, we have verification system in the identification of our beneficiaries, our social workers conduct assessment on the ground, and our Secretary also conducts analysis or assessment,” DSWD Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and spokesperson Irene Dumlao said in Filipino in a radio interview.

She added that if there are politicians and local officials attending DSWD activities, “we respect their oversight functions as legislators, but the DSWD is still the one implementing or conducting the activities.”

Dumlao also pointed out that whenever social protection programs, such as cash assistance payout activities under the AICS are being implemented, the DSWD regional directors always work in conjunction with the concerned local government units (LGUs).

“Our regional directors coordinate with local officials because we request for venue. We request for law enforcers to ensure the orderly conduct of payouts,” she said.

No delay

Dumlao also reiterated that there are “no delays” in cash aid distribution, despite claims of delays in some areas of Mindanao.

“There is no delay in the payout. I think the payout being referred to is for the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT). When there is a disaster, DSWD would come to provide family food packs and non-food items. But there is also relief assistance that is being provided by the DSWD. This is the ECT,” she explained.

Dumlao said that under the ECT, an LGU declares a state of calamity, and the DSWD responds by distributing additional relief assistance equal to 75 percent of the daily regional minimum wage rate multiplied by the number of days based on the regional director’s or field workers’ assessment.

“That could be the reason. But definitely there is no delay because it was necessary to conduct needs assessment, needs analysis,” she said.

She added that DSWD is consistently evaluating its guidelines to make it more responsive to the needs of its beneficiaries and emphasized that the program implementation will always be grounded in the provisions outlined in these policies.

Canada, U.S. agree to 30-day extension of ban on non-essential travel: PM Trudeau