Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Gatchalian has reiterated that the funding for the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICs) are sourced solely from the agency’s approved budget.
“Again, let me just state for the record, wala hong pondo ang congressman . Yung ‘pondo ko,’ wala hong pondo ang congressman. These are department-disbursed funds,” Secretary Gatchalian told the members of the Senate Finance Committee during the deliberation of the agency’s proposed 2025 budget on Monday (October 14).
This was in response to the statement of Zamboanga City 1st District Representative Khymer Adan Olaso expressing disappointment after the DSWD Field Office 9-Zamboanga Peninsula called off a payout that was supposed to be held in his congressional district.
The congressman claimed that his ‘budget’ for the agency’s protective services programs was suspended due to politicking, along with the list of beneficiaries he referred to the DSWD for financial assistance.
Secretary Gatchalian quickly dismissed his claims and emphasized that the DSWD serves people in need, whether they are walk-in clients or were referred to by local government unit (LGU) officials.
“As we speak right now, lahat ng opisina namin, anybody that walks into our office, pina-process ho yan. Now, that list, that referral list that’s given to us, I’ll get it from Congressman Olaso right now. We will look into it again. I will talk to the regional director na kausap niya, who happens to be a career social worker. Nandiyan na ho siya matagal na. Give me the list, I will talk to the regional director. Then if he says that the list is clean and it’s ready to be paid out kasi talagang kailangan, then we’ll pay it out,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
In a statement posted by the DSWD Zamboanga Peninsula, the Field Office explained that under the General Appropriations Act (GAA), the DSWD holds the sole authority to implement AICS and AKAP.
There is no GAA line item that entitles one congressional district to have an allocation in any amount and lodged this with the DSWD that could benefit their constituents. However, referrals from legislators are entertained pursuant to existing guidelines, the DSWD Field Office statement read.
In an interview with Ted Failon, Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency applies a stringent verification and validation process for clients who seek financial assistance, even for referrals from legislators and other LGU officials.
“Tumatanggap tayo ng mga referrals, subject again, to the assessment of the social workers,” said Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson.
The assessment, which is done by licensed social workers, is critical to avoid the overlapping of assistance with other DSWD programs.
The DSWD spokesperson also highlighted that while the agency actively coordinates with LGU executives and officials to organize payout activities, the funding for AKAP and AICS come from the agency’s budget alone.
“Lagi nating pinapaalala na malinaw kung masabi na ang sinasagawang payout activity ng DSWD ay programa ng DSWD at ang pondo ay galing nga po sa DSWD,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.
Tagalog Version
Pondo ng programang AKAP, AICS galing sa DSWD budget – DSWD chief
Nilinaw ni Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Gatchalian na ang pondong ginagamit para sa Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) at Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICs) ay mula sa approved budget ng ahensya.
“Again, let me just state for the record, wala hong pondo ang congressman . Yung ‘pondo ko,’ wala hong pondo ang congressman. These are department-disbursed funds,” sabi ni Secretary Gatchalian sa ginanap na budget deliberation sa Senado nitong Lunes (October 14) hinggil sa DSWD proposed budget para sa 2025.
Ang paglilinaw ay bilang tugon na rin sa hinaing ni Zamboanga City 1st District Representative Khymer Adan Olaso, kung saan nagpahayag ito ng pagkadismaya matapos na hindi matuloy ang scheduled payout sa nasabing lalawigan.
Binanggit din ng Kongresista na ang ‘budget’ para sa mga protective services programs ng kanyang Distrito ay napupulitika kasama na rito ang mga listahan ng beneficiaries na inire-refer sa DSWD para sa financial assistance.
Agad namang itinanggi ni Secretary Gatchalian ang pahayag na ito ng Kongresista kung saan sinabi nitong ang DSWD ay nagbibigay tulong at serbisyo sa lahat ng mga taong nangangailangan, maging ang mga ito ay walk-in clients o ni-refer ng local government unit (LGU) officials.
“As we speak right now, lahat ng opisina namin, anybody that walks into our office, pina-process ho yan. Now, that list, that referral list that’s given to us, I’ll get it from congressman Olaso right now. We will look into it again. I will talk to the regional director na kausap niya, who happens to be a career social worker. Nandiyan na ho siya matagal na. Give me the list, I will talk to the regional director. Then if he says that the list is clean and it’s ready to be paid out kasi talagang kailangan, then we’ll pay it out,” paliwanag pa ni Secretary Gatchalian.
Samantala, sa isang statement na ipinost ng DSWD Zamboanga Peninsula, nilinaw niyo na sa ilalim ng General Appropriations Act (GAA), ang DSWD ang siyang may sole authority para sa implementasyon ng AICS at AKAP.
Nakasaad sa DSWD Field Office statement “There is no GAA line item that entitles one congressional district to have an allocation in any amount and lodged this with the DSWD that could benefit their constituents. However, referrals from legislators are entertained pursuant to existing guidelines.”
Kaugnay nito, batay naman sa interview ni Ted Failon kay DSWD Spokesperson Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao sinabi nitong mahigpit na ipinatutupad ng ahensya ang verification at validation process para sa mga kliyenteng nangangailangan o humihingi ng tulong, maging ang mga ito ay ni-refer sa ahensya mula sa mga mambabatas o sa iba pang LGU officials.
“Tumatanggap tayo ng mga referrals, subject again, to the assessment of the social workers,” sabi ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.
Dagdag pa ni Asst Secretary Dumlao “the assessment, which is done by licensed social workers, is critical to avoid the overlapping of assistance with other DSWD programs.”
“Lagi nating pinapaalala na malinaw kung masabi na ang sinasagawang payout activity ng DSWD ay programa ng DSWD at ang pondo ay galing nga po sa DSWD.” Paglilinaw pa ni Asst. Secretary Dumlao.
