DSWD head ignores calls of critics for her to resign

Survivors of Typhoon “Yolanda” stage a protest inside the compound of the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Quezon City on March 28, 2014, to show their dismay over the rotten relief goods being distributed five months after the typhoon. They also called for the resignation of DSWD Secretary Dinky Soliman. INQUIRER PHOTO / RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines–A familiar refrain.

Amid calls for her resignation, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon Soliman said she would not give up her post and that she did not wish to be distracted from her tasks.

At a press conference on Monday, she defended the Department of Social Welfare and Development from charges of inefficiency and incompetence.

“All of you know that I had resigned from my post because of my principles. I saw that the people’s welfare was being compromised. So it would not be hard for me to do that,” Soliman told reporters.

She resigned as head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in 2005, along with other Cabinet secretaries, at the height of the “Hello Garci” scandal that rocked the administration of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

“I am listening to everyone, and I think if there is something that should be corrected, it should be done. But now, I don’t want to be distracted because there are so many things to do and the DSWD is continuing its job of serving the public,” Soliman said on Monday.

She urged the media to be fair in their reporting, particularly if the DSWD was concerned, and for reporters to get her side or clarification on issues.

“I leave those critics to God. These issues are not exactly new, we’ve answered these issues before, and we have shown that we have not been lacking,” she said.

The official issued the statement after the DSWD was slammed for the purported spoilage of more than 7,000 food packs meant for victims of last year’s Super Typhoon “Yolanda,” the alleged P5 billion in conditional cash transfer funds not liquidated by PhilPost, among others.

Last week, a group of Yolanda survivors called for Soliman’s resignation. Malacañang came to her defense, saying the secretary still enjoys the trust of President Aquino.

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