By Dave G. Malcampo
ZAMBOANGA CITY –
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) here cited the media’s
important role in the implementation of the agency’s programs by promoting
transparency and ensuring that accurate and essential information is being
properly disseminated to the public.
In a media forum held Friday (May 15),
DSWD-9 Assistant Regional Director Consejo Usman said “we are very thankful for
the media’s support in social welfare programs, and we hope that you continue
to help us share information on our programs to the public.”
The DSWD called for the said forum to disseminate the second round of
assessment for the Listahanan, a national information management system with a
database of poor families.
Director Usman emphasized that the media can help in making the
public be aware of the assessment for its smooth implementation.
Listahanan regional focal person Hassan Alfad elaborated that
this system makes available to government agencies and other social protection
stakeholders the database, which will be a basis in identifying potential
beneficiaries of other social protection programs and services.
Regional field coordinator Atty. Ma. Antoinette Lucero, said
that the office is in need of 1,778 field workers that will be deployed to the different
target areas for the assessment.
Meanwhile, DSWD-9 Information Officer Ivan Salvador said that
they would also be launching the Bawal ang Epal Dito campaign, which will need
the media’s help in advocating that only the DSWD can de-list Pantawid Pamilya
beneficiaries who are violating the conditions of the program. “We will need
the media’s help in promoting this, we want to ensure the public that
politicians cannot use the Pantawid for their own purposes,” Salvador said. (with reports from Rylle Darryll Estrella)
