Panayam kay Asec. Romel Lopez, DSWD (January 12, 2024) | UB
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NewsTranscript
00:00 Ayuda Kapalit ng Pirma. That's what's happening to convince some of our countrymen to sign the petition that will help change the Constitution.
00:08 And joining us now, Assistant Secretary Rommel Lopez of the Department of Social Welfare and Development or DSWD.
00:15 Asec Rommel, good morning.
00:17 Sir Erban, good morning. From our Secretary Rex Calilian, good morning to our countrymen who are watching your program.
00:23 I will go straight to the point. You are calling for assistance to individuals in crisis situations, so your AICS program,
00:30 here in the signing of the petition for the People's Initiative. What can you say about that?
00:35 Well, first of all, the DSWD is saddened because we know that the DSWD is an implementing agency of the national government.
00:45 We are the front line social protection agency of the national government.
00:49 We remain apolitical. Our mandate is to help the poor, marginalized and vulnerable sector of our society.
01:00 That's what your agency is doing by following the existing rules and regulations.
01:08 We cannot divide that. We cannot use that because we are asking for requirements.
01:16 Our countrymen know that some have already received assistance from the DSWD.
01:22 Others are frustrated because the queue is long and there are many documentary requirements for AICS.
01:28 So it would be very impossible to use any initiative, like the one you mentioned, your AICS program.
01:38 Because like what I mentioned earlier, it only follows the guidelines and rules and regulations. If we don't follow them, we will be the ones to be blamed by the National Commission.
01:48 You have not received any complaint that the AICS program has conditions to provide assistance.
01:56 Well nothing. Because we are a part of our agency operations service, this is our department here in the DSWD that checks complaints, suggestions, questions,
02:08 and our programs. So far, nothing. It's clear to our social workers that for the longest time, they are the ones who are in charge of our distribution of AICS.
02:20 Our AICS, you just need to meet the requirements that you are in a crisis situation, you are poor, and you have needs,
02:30 you need proper documentation, you can receive it. But this is irreplaceable.
02:36 But now that there's a complaint that there's an allegation, how can we ensure that the assistance will not be used in an agenda that has nothing to do with the DSWD program?
02:46 Well, under the leadership of our Department of the Interior, Secretary Rex Chaitanyang, we have already consulted with our law enforcement agencies and the DALG
02:55 to make sure that we will have a whole-of-nation approach to make sure that our program will not be used in any political agenda.
03:05 The insurance of our department and our agencies to our countrymen will remain political. Our social workers, your DSWD colleagues will not be used here.
03:19 We are also following a code of conduct in our agency to implement our disbursement of money or public funds.
03:30 Special disbursement officers of DSWD will be the ones to do this. Our social workers are trained to assess our countrymen who will receive our assistance.
03:43 They are the only ones who can provide the trigger mechanism to our disbursement officers,
03:50 that this person can receive this, this person may need to return and add documents, and this person doesn't need it.
03:56 That's our process and this cannot be used.
04:01 Anyone can contact your DSWD colleagues to see who can receive our assistance.
04:08 That's the opinion of the DSWD colleagues. What will be our message to our countrymen?
04:14 If they are convinced to sign the petition, will they be held accountable?
04:23 Well, to our countrymen, for example, you are being forced to sign in exchange for assistance, particularly from DSWD and our IX.
04:33 To our countrymen, we remind you that this is impossible to happen because our assistance is for you only if you need it and there's no exchange.
04:47 This initiative and this signing is up to your opinion and ability, but you should believe that your signing is not necessary to receive assistance.
05:03 Let's repeat, as long as you are the poor and need it, you are entitled to help from the government, from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
05:12 This has nothing to do with your favor for the People's Initiative to change the Constitution.
05:17 Well that's right. We are saying that we let the politicians talk about politics, but then your DSWD will remain political and we will continue to perform our mandate of serving the poor, marginalized and vulnerable sectors of our society.
05:34 Thank you very much.
05:36 Thank you very much and good morning.
05:38 We have talked to DSWD Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez.
05:42 (In Tagalog)
05:55 (Music)