By Myris Lee
Incoming Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo said he is willing to step down in “six months to one year” if he “fails to deliver” as the agency’s chief.
In the May 31 Laging Handa briefing, broadcaster Erwin Tulfo asked the public to “judge him based on his performance,” and vowed to step down if “he does not perform his duty well.”
“You cannot please everybody. Ang hinihingi ko lang po ay i-judge ako based on my performance after one year siguro. Sige, kahit six months na lamang ang hinihingi ko. Siguro, that would be fair and square,” Tulfo said.
“‘Pag hindi po tayo nag-perform in six months, then okay lang ho, banatan siguro nila. Or if I cannot deliver in six months to one year, then I guess I have to step down and let somebody else run this department,” he added.
Tulfo said he accepted President-elect Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s nomination to head DSWD because “he and his brothers are into public service.”
Tulfo bared that Marcos Jr. directed him to digitalize the financial assistance of DSWD and vowed to continue the Malasakit Center program of Senator Bong Go as well as to provide opportunities to the veteran employees of DSWD to lead the agency.
For Tulfo, these veterans can guide him on how to properly run the agency and help address other pressing issues involving teenage pregnancy, universal healthcare law, and updating the masterlist of beneficiaries for the Social Amelioration Program.
“Ang tututukan natin ‘yung mapabilis ang pagdadating ng mga ayuda at relief goods and all kapag may bagyo o calamities,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tulfo said he plans to ask the Philippine Communications Operations Office to allow him to continue with his public service program for at least one hour a week. – gb
