Senate Social Justice Committee chairperson Erwin Tulfo on Sunday called on the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to immediately investigate reports of mislabeling in government aid forms for victims of typhoon "Tino" in Cebu.
Tulfo, a former DSWD Secretary, said some barangay personnel allegedly marked severely damaged houses as only “partially damaged,” potentially causing residents to receive less assistance than they are entitled to.
“This is a double whammy — they’re already victims of a calamity, and now they’re becoming victims again of manipulation in the distribution of aid,” Tulfo said.
He cited a report from a resident of Purok Isla Verde, Talisay City, whose flood-damaged home was allegedly undervalued on the DSWD assessment form. Tulfo lamented that discrimination in aid distribution “continues to occur.”
The senator expressed confidence that DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian would act promptly to correct the errors, noting the agency’s quick response during past calamities.
“I know DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian and I am sure that he will not like this. He will not allow these situations to continue,” he said.
The lawmaker also highlighted his Senate Bill 254, the proposed Anti-Discrimination in the Delivery of Social Protection Programs Act, which seeks to penalize government employees who engage in selective or discriminatory practices in aid distribution and stressed that aid must be given to all qualified recipients.
The DSWD, for its part, assured the public that any initial assessment list submitted by local government units will be reevaluated by the department.
DSWD Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Irene Dumlao explained during a forum that the LGU is responsible for the initial assessment, including classifying homes as totally or partially damaged.
“Those classifications are submitted to the DSWD and then we validate them,” Dumlao said in Filipino.