THE DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue providing medical and burial assistance to Filipinos who would need these services during the 10-day ‘ayuda’ ban imposed by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) from May 2 to 12, a senior agency official said Monday.
“While our Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP) are among the government aid that have been placed under the ‘ayuda’ ban, the Comelec has given exemption to our medical and burial aid provisions,” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a news release.
The provision of both medical and burial assistance was earlier given exemption from the poll spending ban in a memorandum issued by the Comelec last March 18.
Dumlao thanked the Comelec for its decision, as it ensured that DSWD would be able to fulfill its mandate of providing timely provision of needed aid to qualified beneficiaries.
“This is a big thing for us because these (funeral and medical aid) should be provided to the people, with or without elections,” she said.
Both the funeral and medical assistance are given to individuals either disbursed in cash or guarantee letters to cover the needs of the clients, subject to the assessment of social workers.
Dumlao said the DSWD will ensure that the continuity of the exempted aid will be in full compliance with the Comelec’s conditions, including the barring of elective officials and or candidates/aspirants from the offsite distribution of cash assistance.
“The DSWD is firm on ensuring that our safeguards are fully-implemented to protect all of our programs and services from any form of political partisanship.” (PNA)
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