Cebu City, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 7 clarified that they will not suspend cash grants to Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries due to the election ban under Omnibus Election Code.
“Pantawid is our regular program and it will continue. In fact, our beneficiary already received cash grants last week,” Rebecca P. Geamala, Regional Director, DSWD 7 said.
The clarification was made after the Commission on Election (COMELEC) released a resolution yesterday, approving the petition of DSWD for the exemption of its routine and normal expenses.
“There is no such thing as suspension. We have requested for an exemption for 4Ps and other programs with payouts from DSWD Central Office. Soon it will be released, “ Rebecca P. Geamala stated in the DSWD Facebook page.
DSWD also requested to continue other services like the ongoing disaster relief, early recovery and rehabilitation efforts, and to undertake possible relief, early recovery and rehabilitation efforts during the election period.
According to the DSWD website post, the COMELEC resolution stated that the expenditures of the program is limited to an amount equivalent to one quarter only, for the duration of the election period.
DSWD affirmed that this will not stop the delivery of programs and services to the Filipino people during the elections. /bmjo