Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Residents receive cash assistance as part of the government's Social Amelioration Program in Malibay in Pasay City on May 1, 2020. File/Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Katrina Domingo

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1768203696788174123881162220200501-covid19-lockdown-amelioration-pasay-jc-4631.webp" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Residents receive cash assistance as part of the government&#x27;s Social Amelioration Program in Malibay in Pasay City on May 1, 2020. File/Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News <br/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will halt cash aid payouts should politicians “gatecrash” in distribution sites, Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Monday.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/3/6/filipinos-divided-on-whether-ayuda-distribution-during-campaign-is-ok-poll-1425">Filipinos divided on whether &#x27;ayuda&#x27; distribution during campaign is OK — poll</a></div><p>While politicians are banned from meddling and participating in the distribution of any public financial assistance programs, the law remains vague on what sanctions should be imposed against officials who would violate the so-called “anti-epal” (anti-credit grabbing) clause.</p><p>“Hindi ko papapuntahin yung paymaster namin habang nandoon yung mga pulitiko. Hindi kami aappear doon, hindi,” Gatchalian told Palace reporters.</p><p>“We have the option to stop. Kapag nag-gate crash, we can stop pero wag na natin paabutin sa ganun,” he said.</p><p>Gatchalian admitted that he “cannot control” other peoples’ actions, especially their posts on social media announcing DSWD’s payout schedules.</p><p>When asked if the government should start legislating a law that will clearly outline penalties for credit grabbing officials, Gatchalian said: “I will leave that to their legislators.”</p><p>The anti-epal provision was included in the 2026 national budget to deter the practice of patronage politics in the Philippines as several elected officials make it appear that government aid passes through their office.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/2/10/most-filipinos-find-ayuda-helpful-survey-2330">Most Filipinos find ‘ayuda’ helpful – survey</a></div><p>“Nobody, not even ako, can commit the funds of the Department because needs-based yan,” the DSWD chief said.</p><p>“We will take all whether may referral o wala. Pero kapag nag-refer ka, wag mong aasahan na susunod kami sa iyo,” he said.</p><p>“‘Yung case intake pa din ang mananaig… Yung opinion, rekomendasyon ng social worker ang mananaig,” he added.</p><p>Aside from an existing memorandum against the presence of politicians in cash aid payout sites, the DSWD will also continue putting up posters in distribution sites to inform the public that elected officials have no say in the aid that they are entitled to receive, he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS</strong></div><div><br/></div><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/-LXMmhziJ9c?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><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/9AaojmIRf1k?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The DSWD will also continue putting up posters in distribution sites to inform the public that elected officials have no say in the aid that they are entitled to receive. </p>

The DSWD will also continue putting up posters in distribution sites to inform the public that elected officials have no say in the aid that they are entitled to receive.

DSWD to halt cash aid payouts should politicians 'gatecrash' distribution sites: Gatchalian

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DSWD to halt cash aid payouts should politicians 'gatecrash' distribution sites: Gatchalian

Katrina Domingo,

ABS-CBN News

Published January 12, 2026 03:44 PM PHT

Read More:

Department of Social Welfare and Development

Rex Gatchalian

DSWD

anti-epal provision

politics

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