'Kulang sa planning': Local DSWD official explains distribution chaos

MANILA (UPDATE) – An official of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office in Isabela said Monday their department was ill-prepared for the start of the distribution of educational assistance over the weekend.

Parents and students on Saturday lined up at offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) nationwide to get financial assistance ahead of Monday's opening of classes.

Several DSWD offices could not cope with the number of people that gathered in their premises all hoping to avail of the student aid.

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Isabela Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Lucila Ambatali said they were only expecting 2,000 people to turn up for the educational assistance, but 5,000 people came to their office.

She said they originally planned to distribute aid by district, but changed tack later on.

“Kasi po talaga po, kulang po sa planning,” she told TeleRadyo.

Ambatali said she welcomes DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo’s announcement that local government units will help with the distribution starting this Saturday.

• LGUs to help distribute student aid next week, says Tulfo

“Kasi sa municipality, kilala na namin yung mga tao doon,” she said.

“Sa mga kababayan po namin, dapat, ang latest po kasi is pumunta na lang kayo sa municipality. Ta's may representative na lang ang DSWD para ma-confirm sa kanilang assessment,” she added.

DSWD TO COORDINATE WITH DILG FOR PAYOUT

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To ensure a smoother distribution, Tulfo said that he and Interior Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr. would be signing a memorandum of agreement Monday afternoon.

Tulfo told TeleRadyo that under the agreement, local governments will be tasked with identifying beneficiaries, providing security, and screening potential payees.

"This time, gagawin natin, kung saang lungsod ka o [kung saan ang] pinakamalapit na lungsod o bayan, doon ka pumunta, at doon ka pumila," he said.

He said he is confident their head office in Quezon City will be decongested, as some beneficiaries went there even though they live outside Metro Manila.

DSWD's regional personnel will also be tapped to assist in the distribution, Tulfo added.

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Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, meanwhile, said there should be close coordination and trust between the DSWD and local governments to avoid a repeat of the problematic aid distribution.

Rama is the president of the League of Cities of the Philippines.

"Pinakaimportante sana, sana magrerespetuhan, tsaka (The most important thing is mutual respect, and to) mag-e-establish ng trust and confidence ng financial assistance," he said.

"It cannot definitely be as effective, efficient, and orderly if there is no close coordination," he added.

“DSWD, kulang ng manpower 'yan. Yung manpower, nand'yan sa local government unit... at saka yung mga mismong human resource from the barangays."

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said coordination with local governments would allow them to assist the DSWD.

“Napakalaking tulong po 'yan para sa ating mamamayan. Sana lang, panawagan namin na makipag-coordinate kayo sa LGUs para naman alam namin saan n’yo ginagawa, makapagpadala kami ng makakatulong sa inyo para hindi magkagulo,” she said.

(That’s a big help to our constituents. We only hope that you could coordinate with us so we can help you and prevent chaos.)

— With a report from Raya Capulong, ABS-CBN News

-- TeleRadyo, 22 August 2022