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Workers from the Commission on Election arrange partial delivery of 8,640 Automated Counting Machines at the Comelec warehouse in Laguna on August 31, 2024 to be used for next year’s midterm elections. ABS-CBN News/File

Workers from the Commission on Election arrange partial delivery of 8,640 Automated Counting Machines at the Comelec warehouse in Laguna on August 31, 2024 to be used for next year’s midterm elections. The Comelec tightened its guidelines for the upcoming elections with stricter policies for candidates’ credentials and grounds for disqualification. ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Commission on Election

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/172906765481420240831-comelec-automated-counting-machines-aa-1.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Workers from the Commission on Election arrange partial delivery of 8,640 Automated Counting Machines at the Comelec warehouse in Laguna on August 31, 2024 to be used for next year’s midterm elections. ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Workers from the Commission on Election arrange partial delivery of 8,640 Automated Counting Machines at the Comelec warehouse in Laguna on August 31, 2024 to be used for next year’s midterm elections. <em>ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span>MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday warned the public against politicians who may be using the agency to draw attention to themselves as the 2025 election draws closer.</div><p>“May eleksyon na paparating at may mga kandidato na maraming eksenang ginagawa at paandar,” DSWD Undersecretary Edu Punay told state television PTV.</p><p>“Tayo po ay maging mapanuri dahil minsan ginagamit ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan sa kanilang kampanya,” he said.</p><p>The DSWD official gave the statement days after the Office of the Vice President claimed that some of the beneficiaries they referred to the agency were allegedly <a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/14/dswd-ovp-exec-clueless-about-duterte-s-claim-of-rejected-referrals-1539">turned away in in social welfare offices</a>.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/16/-walang-pinupulitika-dswd-says-of-aid-referrals-after-duterte-office-s-complaint-821">READ: ‘Walang pinupulitika,’ DSWD says of aid referrals after Duterte office’s complaint</a></div><p>“Hindi po totoo na ang DSWD ay namumulitika o nagpapagamit sa mga pulitiko sa aming mga programa,” Punay said.</p><p>“Wala pong direktiba ang Malacañang o kahit si Sec. Rex Gatchalian na maging selective sa pamamahagi ng aming mga ayuda o iba’t ibang programa sa ating mga kababayang mahihirap,” he said.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/9/30/dict-warns-vs-fake-ai-content-this-election-1416">READ: DICT warns vs fake AI content this election</a></div><p>All beneficiaries seeking cash aid from the DSWD need to undergo screening and interviews as mandated by auditing rules, Punay said.</p><p>“Very strict din ang requirement ng Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS)… dahil pera ang pinamimigay diyan, hindi food packs kaya very strict po si COA (Commission on Audit) sa amin kaya dapat masundan yung guidelines,” he said.</p><p>“Kapag may nirefer sa amin, kailangan namin ivalidate, isa-isahin interviewhin ng aming mga social worker para malaman namin yung pangangailangan nila at maibigay kung ano yung dapat na intervention,” he said.</p><p>This process needs to be honored to avoid previous allegations that the DSWD only caters to individuals who are backed by certain politicians, he said.</p><p>While the OVP said that “some clients referred by the OVP have been left unattended by various Regional Offices of the DSWD,” Punay underscored that beneficiaries do not need endorsements from any politician to avail of the agency’s services.</p><p>“Hindi kailangan ng referral para sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng tulong upang lumapit sa DSWD,” he said.</p><p>“Bukas po ang aming tanggapan, ang aming pintuan sa lahat ng nangangailangan… May walk in tayo, anytime puwede pumunta, pumasok ang ating mga kababayan. Ito po ang aming mandato at trabaho ng ating mga social workers,” he said.</p><p>During the pandemic, the DSWD was accused of distributing its special amelioration program fund to relatives and supporters of barangay and local officials, Punay recalled.</p><p>“Yan ang ating iniiwasan ngayon sa administrasyong ito,” he said.</p><p>“Kailangan ang ayuda ay mapunta lang sa taong nangangailangan, sa mahirap lang talaga.”</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/2024/10/6/festiveness-families-citizens-frustrations-mark-start-of-election-season-1732">READ: Festiveness, families, citizens&#x27; frustrations mark start of election season</a></div><p>RELATED VIDEO:</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Py0C1Weo6U0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday warned the public against politicians who may be using the agency to draw attention to themselves as the 2025 election draws closer.</p>

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday warned the public against politicians who may be using the agency to draw attention to themselves as the 2025 election draws closer.

DSWD warns public vs political stunts as 2025 election campaign nears

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DSWD warns public vs political stunts as 2025 election campaign nears

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 16, 2024 04:34 PM PHT

Read More:

DSWD

Department of Social Welfare and Development

Edu Punay

Rex Gatchalian

ABSNews

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