DSWD-NCR suspends walk-in applications for livelihood assistance

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) on Friday, Jan. 13 suspended the acceptance of walk-in applicants for its livelihood assistance after the agency was flooded with people hoping to receive cash aid.

“Pansamantala po munang ititigil ang pagtanggap ng walk-in applications para sa livelihood assistance ng tanggapan ng DSWD Field Office NCR simula ngayong araw, ika-13 ng Enero 2023 (The DSWD Field Office NCR will temporarily stop accepting walk-in applications for livelihood assistance starting today, Jan. 13, 2023),” the DSWD-NCR said in a post on its official social media page.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez denied they announced that there will be a payout or assessment for its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) on Jan. 13.

“ isang malaking kalituhan. Wala po tayong inanunsyo. Wala tayong ginawang panghihikayat na ngayong araw ay magkakaroon ng malawakang payout o assessment (This was a big confusion. We have not announced anything. We have not announced that there will be a massive payout or assessment today),” Lopez said in the Laging Handa public briefing.

“Nagulat na lang po tayo dahil kahapon may mga dumarating tayong kababayan dun na umaasa na makakatangap ng sustainable livelihood program o SLP (We were surprised because yesterday there were already people coming to the DSWD-NCR Field Office hoping to receive assistance from the sustainable livelihood program),” he said.

Lopez said the DSWD is looking into the incident.

“Ang impormasyon ay hindi galing sa DSWD. Pero just the same, humihingi po kami ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan sa kalituhan na ito (The information did not come from DSWD. But just the same, we apologize to our countrymen for this confusion,” he said.

“Gayunpaman, yung ating mga kababayan ay hiningan po namin ng paunang impormasyon and then from there titignan namin kung pwede sila magqualify at saka namin sila tatawagan. Then bigyan na lamang sila ng tamang schedule para po sila ay maassess at maproseso (However, we asked our countrymen for preliminary information and then from there we will see if they are qualified. We will call those who will qualify to give them proper schedule so they can be assessed and processed),” he pointed out.

He explained the SLP is not like the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), which has an easier application process.

“Mahaba po ang proseso niyan . Kailangan muna ma-tag na poor, at kung hindi man na-tag na poor ng ating National Housing Targeting System, may endorsement galing sa inyong LGU (local government unit). Saka pa lang kayo iaassess at ipoproseso at kung kayo ay magkaqualify na makatanggap (SLP application has a long process. You must first be tagged as poor. If you are not tagged as poor by our National Housing Targeting System, you must have an endorsement from your LGU. Only then will you be assessed and processed, if you qualify to receive assistance from DSWD),” Lopez said.

The public is also reminded that the DSWD-NCR will process only the applications of those from Metro Manila.

“Muli, ang lahat po ay aming pinapaalalahanan na maging mapagmatiyag at mapanuri. Tanging ang Official Facebook Page ng DSWD NCR ang awtorisadong magbigay ng mensahe upang maiwasan ang Fake News at pagkalito sa mga proseso (Again, we remind everyone to be vigilant. Only the Official Facebook Page of DSWD NCR is authorized to give announcements to avoid fake news and confusion in the processes),” the DSWD-NCR said.