Senators slam DSWD anew for ‘politicizing’ financial aid distribution

MANILA, Philippines — Senators have again lashed out at the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for “politicizing” the distribution of its financial aid to poor beneficiaries.

Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go brought up the case of Zamboanga City Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso when the Senate subcommittee on finance tackled the proposed 2025 budget of the DSWD on Monday.

According to Go, Olaso could be seen in a Facebook video kneeling and begging before the regional director of the DSWD to allow the scheduled payout to beneficiaries in Zamboanga.

“Ano ho ba ang totoong rason dito? Hindi ho ba naging selective ang inyong opisina sa pagpili? Bakit kailangan pang magmakaawa ng isang kongresista para matuloy po ‘yung payout sa mga intended indigent beneficiaries?” the senator asked.

(What is the real reason behind this? Has your office not become selective in its choices? Why does a congressman have to beg for the payout to proceed for the intended indigent beneficiaries?)

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated that his office was not selective. He noted that its social workers are the ones validating the list of beneficiaries referred to them.

“Pagka nagbigay ho ang kongressista o ang kahit na sinong partner ng referral list, vene-vet ho nating mabuti yun,” Gatchalian said.

(When a congressman or any partner provides a referral list, we thoroughly vet it.)

In the case of Olaso, he said they informed the congressman ahead of time that the supposed payout schedule would not push through as they were not yet done vetting the list submitted to them.

It does not mean, however, there would not be a payout at all, Gatchalian pointed out.

However, Olaso denied this, saying the payout was scheduled for October 11, but he was only informed that it would no longer push through on October 9, or just a day after he lodged his mayoral bid in Zamboanga City.

Sen. Imee Marcos, who was presiding over the hearing, said this was not the first time this happened, citing the same cancellation of payout schedule for other parts of the country.

“Marami na talagang ginagawang ganyan ang DSWD. Huwag naman kayong sasama sa pulitika. Wala pang eleksyon, mas pulitiko pa kayo kesa sa amin,” Marcos said.

(The DSWD has really been doing a lot of that. Please don’t get involved in politics. Even without elections, you’re acting more like politicians than we are.)

She later commented that the DSWD should be held accountable for allowing the office to be used for politics.

“Kinakailangan talaga panagutan ng DSWD kung bakit nangyayari, paulit-ulit itong mga pagkakataon na ginagamit kayo na mas pulitiko pa kayo kesa sa pulitiko. Wala namang ganyanan,” Marcos added.

(The DSWD really needs to be held accountable because it keeps on happening and you are being used more as politicians than the actual politicians. That shouldn’t be the case.)

Just last April, Go gave DSWD officials a dressing down also for allegedly being selective in implementing its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program.

NOTE: The English translations in the article were AI-generated.