DILG: Illegal for brgy officials to require voter IDs for food packs

MANILA, Philippines–Barangay officials requiring residents to show voter identification cards in exchange for food packs during the coronavirus crisis, are committing an act of abuse and should be reported, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said on Wednesday.

“Bawal po yan, panahon ngayon ng tulong, panahon ng magandang pamamahala at hindi panahon ng pulitika ngayon,” DILG Spokesman and Undersecretary Jonathan Malaya said in a public briefing of Presidential Communication’s Laging Handa.

(That is illegal. This is the time to help our countrymen, a time to show good leadership and not for politicking.)

The DILG official reminded the public to report abusive barangay officials to the DILG Emergency Operations Center at 09274226300, 09617721668 and 028763455 local 881.

Malaya also explained that food packs should be distributed per household by barangay officials, adding that the food allocation  should be good for three to four days.

“Hindi po yan (food packs) pang-isang tao, pambahay po iyan. I-identify kung ilang household meron diyan,” he said.

(The food packs are not for one person only, it is per household. The local government will identify the number of households.)

/MUF