Photo courtesy of DSWD.
QUEZON CITY (PIA) — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Tuesday, Oct. 15, that they have records to show there was no referral for assistance from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) that his office failed to act on.
In a radio interview, Secretary Gatchalian clarified allegations that some referral requests from the OVP were turned down.
We can show the records of the discussions and conversations with the OVP and the DSWD, and we have a long list—actually pages of referrals presented at the Senate hearing on Monday—and screenshots of pages of processed referrals, Gatchalian said.
“Sa pagkakaalam namin lahat ng ni-refer sa amin ng OVP ay malugod naming pino-process. Alam ito ni Asec. Ulysses Aguilar ito, kasi siya yung laging may kausap doon,” Sec. Gatchalian said.
(As far as we know, all the referrals from the OVP, and the DSWD gladly processed. Asec. Ulysses Aguilar knew this because he was always in talks with a director at the VP’s office.
Gatchalian also pointed out that the DSWD is always willing to extend assistance regardless of referral.
“Everyday naman kahit walang referral ‘pag pumunta ka sa tanggapan ng DSWD tinutulungan ka Hindi mo kailangan ng referral. Kung may referral, tutulungan ka rin,” Secretary Gatchalian said on the same radio interview.
He added that the DSWD has already coordinated with OVP for clarification. I think our documentation is enough to prove we don’t favor anyone in processing requests for assistance.
Moreover, Gatchalian said they do not politicize helping people. He said that the ones responsible for extending assistance are licensed social workers, which means their licenses, integrity, and credibility are at risk if they politicize helping those in need. (PIA DMD)
