Malacanang clarifies alleged misuse of DSWD
funds
Malacanang said on Monday that the alleged
misuse of Department of Social Welfare and Development funds to bankroll an
anti-epal (credit grabber or scene stealer) campaign for the upcoming elections
is actually the budget of the Social Marketing Service (SMS) of said agency which
spearheads the development of the DSWD’s various programs.
In a
briefing in Malacanang, Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said the
SMS leads the DSWD’s advocacy of informing beneficiaries, specifically of the
Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program, of their inclusion or exclusion from
the program.
“The
amount being mentioned by a senatorial candidate who made that statement is the
budget for the entire unit – the Social Marketing Service under the DSWD that
has been there and is helping the agency with its various programs,” Valte
said.
She said
that through an information campaign, member beneficiaries of the government’s
anti-poverty program are made fully aware of their rights to the financial
measure.
“Essentially it is an advocacy of the DSWD to
inform the beneficiaries themselves, kasi may nakukuha kaming report na may mga
local politicians na nagsasabi (sa mga constituents nila) na pag hindi ka
sumama sa akin o hindi (ka) bumoto sa akin ay ipapatanggal ko kayo sa listahan
(ng beneficiaries),” Valte said.
She
clarified that the “main reason they are included in a certain program of the
agency is because they are qualified beneficiaries determined by the National
Household Targeting System(NHTS) and the only reason they may be taken off any
program is because they did not comply with the agency’s requirements and not
because of any local government officials say so.”
She
lauded the information campaign as “timely” as “what we are trying to safeguard
against is (that) the program becomes a tool for patronage politics.”
“Ayaw
natin mangyari 'yun,” Valte said.
According
to the website of the DSWD (www.dswd.gov.ph), the Social Marketing Service is
responsible for undertaking advocacy, social marketing, marketing and
networking activities to promote social change and to nurture the Department’s
relationships with its publics and stakeholders. SMS shall institutionalize a
feedback mechanism to ensure that the development policies and messages
embodied in the vision, mission and goal of the Department are effectively
communicated. PND (rck)
Malacanang says Aquino government to study
proposal for 'total gun ban'
The
Aquino administration will study the proposal for a total gun ban following the
death of a seven-year-old girl who was hit by a stray bullet in Caloocan City
and the shooting rampage in Kawit, Cavite, a Palace official said on Monday.
Deputy
Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte issued the statement during the regular
press briefing in Malacanang amid calls for stricter gun controls and a total
gun ban.
The
Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines said the government should
consider the proposal from various groups to ensure the safety of the public.
"Ang
dami pong iba’t ibang proposal between stricter gun control to proposals for a
total gun ban. So that has to be discussed with the President," Valte
said.
Senator
Gregorio Honasan said on Saturday that his committee on public order and
dangerous drugs would review existing gun laws, consolidate related pending
bills and conduct public hearings on gun controls when sessions resume on
January 21.
For his
part, Senator Panfilo Lacson proposed to the government the suspension of all
permits to carry in the wake of Ronald Bae's shooting spree.
"Again, it depends on what the contents
of that law will be. When you say comprehensive firearms law, that would
involve everything from the importation—rules for importation, rules for
procurement, for requirements, etcetera. So we will have to see what is in that
proposal for a comprehensive firearms law," Valte said.
Bae, an
alleged drug addict, went on a shooting rampage in Kawit, Cavite Friday morning.
He attacked his neighbors with a .45-caliber pistol, killing eight people and
injuring nine others.
On the
other hand, Stephanie Nicole Ella was watching a fireworks display outside her
home in Malaria district, Caloocan City when she was hit by a stray bullet in
her head on New Year's Eve. Ella died at the East Avenue Medical Center in
Quezon City Wednesday afternoon. PND (js)
