The claim by Secretary Rexlon Gatchalian that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has accommodated all referrals from the Office of the Vice President (OVP) is inaccurate and misleading.

While such statements may paint a picture of seamless coordination between our two offices, the reality on the ground tells a different story.

There had been several instances when OVP referrals were declined. An example of this was a request for assistance to an identified group of individuals whose livelihood were affected due to the African Swine Flu virus. The request was denied because the DSWD claimed that they cannot do “mass payout,” and yet they are able to do it in other areas, together with other politicians.

Moreover, there are clear evidence from various OVP Satellite Offices that some clients referred by the OVP have been left unattended by various Regional Offices of the DSWD.

Isa lamang dito ay mayroong 7,056 pending applications para sa Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) at 2,597 pending applications para sa Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) ang nai-refer ng OVP Panay and Negros Islands Satellite Office sa DSWD Field Office-VI na hanggang ngayon ay wala pa ring naiaabot na assistance.

Handa na rin ang listahan ng identified beneficiaries ng OVP Cebu, Bohol, and Siquijor Satellite Office, ngunit patuloy na bumabalik ang mga kliyente sa aming Tanggapan dahil wala silang natanggap mula sa DSWD.

There is no clear explanation provided by the DSWD to the OVP referred clients from the Satellite Offices on the delay or inaction on the requests.

To dismiss these unserved clients is to ignore the real challenges many Filipinos face in accessing social services.

We call for DSWD’s immediate action to address these gaps and fulfill the government’s obligation to provide aid to every Filipino.

Daghang salamat.

NORMAN B. BALORO Director for Operations Office of the Vice President