Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO/MARIANNE BERMUDEZ
NAGA CITY—Politicians who want to ride on the government program to distribute cash to the poorest of the poor would not be allowed to do so during cash distribution programs, according to Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, whose department is in charge of the cash subsidy program.
Soliman, head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), said politicians would not be allowed to deliver speeches before beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps, which seeks out the poorest of the poor and provides them cash subsidies.
According to Soliman, among the 4Ps events where politicians would not be allowed to deliver speeches are family development sessions, which are periodic gatherings of 4Ps beneficiaries that are aimed at raising the beneficiaries’ awareness on the 4Ps’ objectives.
Talks by politicians
Soliman said at a meeting with coordinators of the 4Ps program in 27 villages in the city that if a “candidate suddenly arrives and asks our workers if he can speak before the crowd, our answer is no, you cannot do that because this is a government program.”
She said the politician must wait after the 4Ps gathering is concluded and seek permission to speak from the 4Ps beneficiaries themselves.
Soliman said workers of the DSWD personnel would leave after 4Ps events and it would be up to beneficiaries, or their leaders, if the politician should be allowed to talk, interact with beneficiaries or have snacks with candidates.
Soliman said while it is clear that DSWD is not closing its door on candidates who want to talk with the agency’s program partners, it would be a different story if DSWD workers are themselves cooperating with the candidates.
Leave of absence
She said DSWD workers, who want to be a part of the campaign machinery of a candidate, would need to take a leave of absence for the duration of the campaign.
She said, however, that members of the Cabinet are exempt from the prohibition on conflict of interest.
She said the Supreme Court has already ruled that Cabinet members are allowed to campaign for their chosen candidates since they are not career service officers but political appointees.
Soliman also said it would not be possible for politicians to use 4Ps to entice or harass voters into voting for them since it is only the DSWD that determines who the beneficiaries are based on the criteria set on who should qualify for the program. Juan Escandor Jr., Inquirer Southern Luzon