Amid informal reports of politicians threatening beneficiaries of being removed from its programs, the DSWD Field Office VI assured that the agency is non-political.

“Only DSWD can delist you from our programs and projects and removal can only be done for valid cause. If you are threatened of being removed from our programs because you are not supporting a certain candidate, that is a lie. We do not do that. We remain non-political,” said Regional Director Arwin O. Razo.

Informal reports have reached the agency that there are politicians spreading lies by telling the beneficiaries that they will be delisted from DSWD programs if they will not be supporting their candidacy.

For instance, inclusion in 4Ps is based on Listahanan database of poor households. This is not determined in the barangay, municipal or city level.

Inclusion in Social Pension Program is also based in Listahanan and has a set of criteria that should be followed, specifically, they should be: senior citizens or those aged 60 years old and above, those frail, sickly, or with disability, those with no pension from GSIS, SSS, Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO), Armed Forces and Police Mutual Benefit Association, Inc. (AFPMBAI) or any other insurance company, those with no permanent source of income, and those with no regular support from family or relatives for his or her basic needs. Inclusion is subject to assessment by DSWD.

Receiving assistance under the Sustainable Livelihood Program is based on a set of eligibility criteria to be followed, specifically, they should be based on the Listahanan database of poor households or those found qualified through administration of SLP Means Test.

“Rest assured that our programs are insulated from politics. Politicians cannot remove our beneficiaries,” said Director Razo./dswd6