DSWD-4A has done nothing wrong in Noveleta”—- Tulfo
THE officers and personnel of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 4A has done nothing wrong in the distribution of cash aid to typhoon victims in Noveleta, Cavite last week. This was based on the result of the investigation conducted by the DSWD Central Office recently.
In connection to this, DSWD Sec. Erwin Tulfo has ordered DSWD Region 4A Director Barry Chua and Assistant Director Mylah Guitterez to return to their posts, after they were temporarily transferred to the central office last Thursday based from the complaints of Noveleta Mayor Dino Chua.
According to Sec. Tulfo, “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”.
“Ang nirereklamo ni Mayor Chua ay tila pinahirapan daw ng DSWD personnel ang mga bibigyan ng cash assistance on that day dahil kung anu-anong dokumento raw ang hinihingi ng mga tauhan namin”, the secretary added.
“Pero ang policy na namin ngayon ay kapag may kalamidad, kung walang ID, dapat nasa listahan ng LGU (local government unit) yung beneficiary o na-endorsed ng barangay sa amin”, Tulfo explained.
The DSWD chief said their personnel just followed these policies.
“Ang problema doon sa 500 na dala ng LGU, 200 lang ang nasa listahan nila habang ang 300 ay hindi naman kilala ng mga barangay officials na naroon sa payout site,” he added.
“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.
It was just last July when Tulfo ordered the removal of the indigency at residency certificate, barangay ID and other documents as requirements in asking for aid from the DSWD in times of calamity.
The secretary added, “sila (LGU) po ang nagdala ng mga tao sa payout site that day pero out of the 500 supposed beneficiaries, 200 lang ang may identification o naroon sa listahan ng barangay while the rest wala na nga sa listahan, hindi pa kilala ng mga barangay officials”.
“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.
“I’m sure, Mayor Chua knows that and he understands all these COA rules. Napaliwanagan na po namin si Mayor noong pang Biyernes at okay na po ang lahat ng panig”, the DSWD secretary said.
