ZAMBOANGA CITY–The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has directed the agency’s field offices to suspend the transfer of funds to local government units (LGUs) involving the implementation of its programs.
Evangeline Poquita, DSWD-Region 9 Promotive Services Division chief, on Friday said the directive aims to prevent politicians from using the agency’s programs to advance their candidacy.
Poquita said the measure also seeks to avoid suspicions or allegations that the agency’s funds are being used in elections.
Poquita said among the programs affected by the directive from the DSWD central office, which is effective this month, are the payment of social pensions, supplemental feeding and others that involved the participation of the LGUs.
“We are not allowed to transfer funds to the LGUs starting this month,” Poquita said during a media forum on the updates of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) here on Friday.
Poquita clarified the LGUs were not directly involved in the payout of grants to 4Ps beneficiaries except to provide the venue.
She said that in most of the areas, the payout is released through the banks such as the Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP).
Meanwhile, she allayed the fears of 4Ps beneficiaries that they will be delisted from the program based on their preference for certain candidates.
She said 4Ps beneficiaries are not prohibited to join any election-related activities “as long as they will not bring the name of the Pantawid (program).”
She said in the case of a parent-leader, they should temporarily go on leave if they are also designated as a political leader during the election period.
“They are also prohibited to use the t-shirts or uniforms of 4Ps beneficiaries in participating in election-related activities,” she added. (Teofilo Garcia, Jr/PNA)
