Koko Pimentel asks Duterte to name new DSWD chief

Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III on Wednesday called on President Rodrigo Duterte to name a new Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) amid the mass evacuation of nearly 200,000 residents of flooded areas in Luzon.

Pimentel said that “swift action and urgent decision making are needed to ensure that aid will reach residents of the affected areas.”

Seven people died and five others have gone missing due to continuing heavy monsoon rains brought by a series of tropical storms. The rains also caused the evacuation of residents hit by flooding and the threat of landslides in at least seven regions.

Pimentel cited the need for a “stable and excellent leadership of the DSWD” to implement the governments’ flagship P89-billion poverty-alleviation program.

The senator further explained that because of the limited powers of acting DSWD Secretary Virginia Nazarrea Orogo, the government’s conditional cash grants to poor families “could unnecessarily suffer”.

Duterte named Orogo, former undersecretary for special concerns of the DSWD, as acting head last May 8 to replace Undersecretary for General Administrative and Support Services Group Emmanuel A. Leyco.

The President had earlier named Leyco as DSWD officer-in-charge after the Commission of Appointments rejected the ad-interim appointment of former Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo.

Pimentel said a new head is also needed to make sure that the Department’s “pro-poor” and “pro-people” programs will be effectively implemented.

He added that the onset of the typhoon season places the DSWD on a “very significant role in the relief and rehabilitation operations of storm-ravaged provinces across the country.”

The DWSD has a P137.55-billion budget this year, the sixth highest budget allocation among national government agencies.

“DSWD also has role in the distribution of aid to the poor under TRAIN Law hence, important that Secretary be appointed as soon as possible!” Pimentel noted.   /vvp