Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian welcomed the decision of the Commission on Elections (Comelec) to exempt key agency programs from the election spending ban, citing it ensures unhampered aid to poor and marginalized Filipinos.
In a memorandum issued by the Comelec on March 18, the poll body approved the request of the DSWD to exempt some of its social welfare programs from Section 261 (v)(2) of the Omnibus Election Code (OEC).
This is the second time the DSWD’s request was granted by the COMELEC, following its earlier request to exempt 28 of its social welfare programs from the poll spending ban, which was also approved by the commission last January 8.
Gatchalian said the agency made the timely decision to extend a second request to ensure that the DSWD can provide much-needed aid to poor Filipino.
“Because the DSWD’s response doesn’t stop just because there’s an election. So, the medical assistance, burial assistance, that’s continuous because that’s our mandate,” he said.
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said the agency is fully committed to heed the Comelec’s terms and recommendations.