The Commission on Appointments on Wednesday has rejected the ad interim appointment of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo on her final confirmation hearing with Commission on Appointments committee.
The announcement of Taguiwalo’s rejection was made on the executive session happened on Wednesday wherein she was asked about her idea on the issue of Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT Program), on her alleged links with National Democratic Front and her opinion on the proposed national identification system and tax reform program.
However, there were few Senators who supported the confirmation of the said cabinet member.
“I believed in the Secretary. It pains me that we wil no longer have her to defend the DSWD budget. To Sec. Judy we wish you the best,” Senator Loren Legarda said.
Sen. Sonny Angara, Senator Miguel Zubiri and Senator Kiko Pangilinan stated that they supported the confirmation of Sec. Judy Taguiwalo
On the side of the rejected secretary, she emphasized, “Isang karangalan ang maglingkod bilang isang DSWD secretary kahit sa maikling panahon lamang.”
“The CA as a collective body has decided and accept decision. Subalit, naniniwala ako na hindi sinasalamin ng desisyon ng CA ang paningin ng taong bayan. Buo ang aking tiwala sa mamamayan na higit kanino man sakanila ako may pananagutan,” she added.
During the session, DSWD Secretary Taguiwalo emphasized that President Rodrigo Duterte’s Marching Order is to serve without corruption and give fair judgment to people in the third confirmation hearing with Commission on Appointments committee.
Three days after the war in Marawi, Secretary Taguiwalo mentioned that their agency responded quickly to usher the residents to safety. Once they turned over the reliefs to Task Force Bangon Marawi, more than PHP300 million worth of assistance were given to the Internally Displaced Persons (DPS) already.
Secretary Taguiwalo was even asked by Senator Manny Pacquiao regarding the programs that the DSWD launch for the poor families and she answered by presenting the DSWDs Sustainable Livelihood Programs.
Moreover, she also mentioned about the cooperation of DSWD to other government agencies such as Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for a better employment programs for the Filipinos. | (Tina Joyce Laceda – PTV)