DSWD: Comelec personnel to be invited to ayuda payouts

MANILA, Philippines — To prevent or discourage politicians and candidates from attending aid distribution activities in violation of election rules, representatives from the Commission on Elections (Comelec) would be allowed to witness such events and take action against violators.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said such an arrangement with the Comelec was proposed by its Chairman George Garcia, who argued that it could be effective in keeping politicians and candidates in the May polls at bay during payouts of ayuda or assistance.

“Yes, we will do so,” Gatchalian told The STAR, referring to Garcia’s proposal for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to invite Comelec representatives to observe aid distribution activities.

Gatchalian reiterated that mechanisms are already in place to insulate DSWD programs and services from politicking.

He also said DSWD personnel are under instructions to “adhere to the rules set forth by the department and by the Comelec.”

He made this assurance in response to Garcia’s reminder aired on Thursday that the agency’s personnel may face administrative changes if they are found  complicit with politicians in violating election rules.

On Wednesday, the Comelec approved the department’s request to exempt 28 programs and services from the election spending ban.

The programs are the controversial Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Sustainable Livelihood Program, Services for Residential and Center-based Clients, Supplementary Feeding Program, Pag-abot Program, Walang Gutom Program, Tara Basa! Program and the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program.

Gatchalian also underscored that the DSWD, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) are finalizing the joint guidelines for the conditional implementation of AKAP.

The DSWD chief earlier met with Labor Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan to fine-tune the AKAP guidelines.

According to DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao, measures are being implemented to ensure the agency’s adherence to the