The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday said it would maintain the highest level of professionalism in delivering public services, free from politics and other ill motivations, the agency’s spokesperson said on Wednesday.

Irene Dumlao, assistant secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), said the DSWD always adheres to the proper guidelines when it comes to implementation of the government programs.

“May mga guidelines kami na sinusunod, may verification system kami in the identification of beneficiaries, may assessment na isinasagawa ang aming mga social workers sa ground, nagkakaroon din ng analysis or assessment ang ating butihing secretary (We have guidelines that we follow, we have verification system in the identification of our beneficiaries, our social workers conduct assessment on the ground, and our Secretary also conducts analysis or assessment),” she said in a media release.

She said if there are politicians and local officials attending DSWD activities, “we respect their oversight functions as legislators.

“Pero ang ahensya pa rin ang nag-implement (but the DSWD is still the one implementing [the programs]),” she added.

Dumlao made the remarks after the alleged selective and delayed payout activities under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program were raised in a Senate hearing on Tuesday.

She said DSWD regional directors always coordinate with the concerned local government units (LGUs) during the implementation of social protection programs such as cash aid payout activities under the AICS.

According to the DSWD website, AICS provides medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance for other support services or needs of a person or family while Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) is an adaptive strategy of the DSWD in bridging the gap between immediate disaster relief, humanitarian response and early recovery support in disasters and emergency by providing unconditional cash assistance to disaster-affected families.

“Our regional directors coordinate with local officials kasi nanghihiram tayo ng venue [we request for venue], we request for law enforcers to ensure the orderly conduct of payouts,” she said.

She said there is no delayed cash aid distribution contrary to such claims in some areas in Mindanao.

“I think the payout being referred to is for the ECT. Kapag po nagkaroon ng disaster (Whenever there is a disaster), DSWD would come to provide family food packs and non-food items. But there is also relief assistance that is being provided by the DSWD, ito yong ECT (this is ECT),” she said.

Under the ECT, an LGU declares a “state of calamity” and the DSWD will come in to distribute the additional relief assistance equivalent to 75 percent of the daily regional minimum wage rate multiplied by the number of days based on the assessment of the regional director or field workers.

The DSWD is continuously reviewing its guidelines to make it more responsive to the needs of its beneficiaries while emphasizing that program implementation will always be based on the provisions of these policies. (PNA)