MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ordered the return of two of its Calabarzon regional officers just two days after removing them, after an investigation by the department concluded that “they had done nothing wrong.”
It can be recalled that Region 4A Director Barry Chua and Assistant Regional Director Mylah Gatchalian were transferred to the DSWD Central Office while an investigation was conducted after Noveleta Mayor Dino Chua complained about strict requirements for aid meant for families recently affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng.
However, DSWD Sec. Erwin Tulfo cited the result of the investigation conducted by the DSWD Central Office and said that the two officials were absolved from the allegation as they were only following existing policies.
“Wala nang kwestiyun sa pagbibigay ng food packs sa 500 katao na pumila doon noong araw na yun dahil lahat naman po ay nabigyan ng pagkain,” said Tulfo.
(There was no question about giving food packs to the 500 people who lined up that day because everyone was given food.)
Tulfo explained that it is under DSWD policy to deny an individual their aid if they cannot present an ID, if they are not on the beneficiary list, or if they were not endorsed by the barangay.
Furthermore, Tulfo said that it was the local government that brought 500 beneficiaries, even when they only had 200 on their list of beneficiaries.
“Kailangan po na may ma-i-present naman kami sa Commission on Audit (COA) kahit papaano kapag kami ay natanong kung saan o kanino namin ibinibigay yung mga cash ayuda po namin,” Tulfo said.
(We need to be able to present something to the COA somehow when we are asked where or to whom we give our cash aid.)
“Paano namin ipapaliwanag sa COA kung kami ay hanapan ng katibayan na namigay nga kami ng cash ayuda on that day and place pero we have no proof to show?” Tulfo asked.
(How can we explain to the COA if we are looking for evidence that we did give cash aid on that day and place but we have no proof to show?)
Meanwhile, Tulfo said that they have already talked with Mayor Chua, “at okay na po ang lahat ng panig” (and all sides are now okay.)
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