Two DSWD regional officials have been fired for posting too many documents from aid-seeking storm victims in Cavite province. They were reinstated by DSWD Sec. Tulfo after a probe showed they were just following protocol.
In his desire to paint a non-nonsense image of himself in the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Secretary Erwin Tulfo who sacked two regional officials last week allegedly for posting many documents from aid-seeking storm victims in the province of Cavite province, got rebuked by their reinstatement and clearance of any infraction.
Tulfo announced their removal with media to address the town mayor’s complaint, and ordered them back after an investigation showed they were just following protocol, Inquirer reported.
The DSWD said Barry Chua returned to his post as regional director and Mylah Gatchalian as assistant director of the DSWD-CALABARZON Field Office as per Tulfo’s orders.
Tulfo had also informed Mayor Dino Chua of Noveleta, Cavite, about the department’s “fair and impartial inquiry.” The investigation absolved the 2 DSWD officials since they were just following the DSWD’s “existing guidelines.”
It was Mayor Chua’s complaint that prompted Tulfo to sack the two officials, citing the cases of storm evacuees in his town in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm “Paeng.”
The local government official said the regional DSWD office asked for too many documents from the calamityvictims such as a certificate of indigence and identification papers before they could be given relief assistance.
Meanwhile, DSWD Social Marketing Service Head Marlouie Sulima said Tulfo immediately reviewed the agency’s policy in response to the incident.
Sulima informed reporters via a series of messages that Tulfo had ordered the reduction of the requirements and removal of the certificate of indigence “for the faster processing of assistance to anyone seeking help from the agency.”
“Now, residents who were listed by their respective local government units (LGUs) as victims of a calamity will only need to present one ID so they can get their assistance,” Tulfo ordered.
A beneficiary may request a barangay certification to show that they are on the list of catastrophe victims if they don't have an ID card or other form of identification.
The DSWD may ask the concerned barangay officials to verify the help seeker's identification directly.
A recipient of the DSWD program Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) may get monetary assistance ranging from ₱3,000 to ₱10,000, based on the social workers' evaluation of the beneficiary's situation.
Auditing Rules
Citing the results of the probe, Tulfo said the two regional officials only requested for one ID from each typhoon-affected resident—not several papers, as reported by the mayor.
Tulfo further pointed out that demanding an ID was also in compliance with state auditing rules.
“Every centavo we give out to those in need must be accounted for and backed by a piece of document to show that our funds really go to the poor and the needy of this country, and to protect our personnel from graft and corruption cases,” Tulfo said
However, Tulfo said the day he announced the relief of Chua and Gatchalian that the strict guidelines the mayor had complained about were in "quite contrast" to the president's order to make the distribution of disaster help as smooth as possible. Tulfo also apologized to the mayor of Noveleta and vowed to prevent a repeat of the incident.
The DSWD said the secretary had pledged to “protect and defend” DSWD personnel “as long as they are committed to fulfilling their duty anchored on the department’s mission to alleviate the suffering of the poor, the needy, the elderly, the vulnerable and the marginalized members of the society.”
Tags: #DSWD, #DSWDProgramAssistance