DSWD rolls out ‘anti-epal’ campaign in Cebu

CARCAR City, Cebu—The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) last Saturday officially rolled out in this vote-rich province its anti-Epal campaign which aimed to dissuade candidates from using the government’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) Program during campaign period.

DSWD Secretary Ma. Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said that the anti-Epal campaign was launched to protect the integrity of their various social protection programs especially the poverty alleviation CCT also known as Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

She explained that the campaign aims to empower the beneficiaries with the knowledge that “no one has the right to delist a beneficiary from the program.”

“The bold move of the Bawal ang Epal campaign will directly eliminate the misconception of the beneficiaries about the control of politicians over the Pantawid Pamilya program and definitely not a dole-out,” said Soliman.

For her part, Pantawid Pamilya National Program Manager Rodora Babaran said that no local officials could delist a beneficiary from the program.

“Only the DSWD Regional and National offices are authorized to do so, and only if the said beneficiary is not compliant to set conditions of the program,” Babaran told the family beneficiaries who attended the launch at the Carcar gymnasium.

Soliman also said that the agency prompted to launch the anti-Epal campaign because some politicians and groups were using the CCT program to threaten beneficiaries and take advantage of their votes in the upcoming elections.

“It seeks to eliminate the Epal in the implementation of the government programs, especially Pantawid Pamilya,” she added.

During the launch, Soliman was joined by Babaran, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Usec. Francisco Fernandez, Department of Education (DepEd) Usec. Rizalino Rivera and DSWD Region VII Director Mercedita Jabagat.

The DSWD chief said that she received reports that some local officials used the CCT program to harass the beneficiaries by threatening them to be delisted from the program if they won’t support or vote for them.

For the enforcement of the campaign, the DSWD has signed an agreement with the DILG, which in turn monitors local government officials during the campaign period.

Fernandez said that it is no longer necessary for the agency to issue a circular saying that the implementation of the campaign is already “common sense.”

“We are just reaffirming our directives to all our regional directors to ensure that no politicians make use of the program in politicking,” he said.

Meanwhile, Soliman also cautioned Pantawid leaders and coordinators not to participate in any partisan or political activity saying that they will be sanctioned in doing so.

She also clarified that the beneficiaries are not prevented to campaign or endorse a candidate provided that they will not use the Pantawid program to lure or harass other beneficiaries.

“We encourage the beneficiaries to exercise their rights to vote freely without any intimidation, that’s why we are doing this campaign,” she added.

For more, listen to the attached audio clip from Radyo INQUIRER 990 AM.