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Official Publication of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol Regional Office, in cooperation with the RIAC-REDIRAS - RDC Bicol



Friday, April 12, 2013

DSWD leads "Anti-Epal" Campaign in Camarines Sur

by Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, April 12 (PIA) -- The Department of Social Welfare and Development regional office here launched the agency's anti-epal campaign Jardin Del Rio, Barangay Dayangdang here, Wednesday, April 10.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Bicol Regional Director Arnel B. Garcia sought the help of the local media to popularize the campaign in line with the upcoming mid term elections on May 2013.

With the slogan “Makialam, Magsumbong, Bawal ang Epal Dito”, Garcia said that the campaign aims to to inform the public that DSWD has the sole authority to delist any member of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) if they failed to comply with the requirements.

“Epal, meaning credit grabbers – these are the people that we want to expose so that they would not merit any vote from our beneficiaries. 4Ps is a government program, a DSWD initiated program and not an LGU or politician-initiated endeavor. We want the media to help us disseminate this information so that our constituents will not fall prey to the glib talks of the politicians,” Garcia told members of the local media.

Garcia also said that the campaign aims to allay the fears of the beneficiaries so that they don’t have to force themselves to vote a certain candidate to continue receiving the benefits under the Conditional Cash Transfer Program of the government.

“DSWD employed the National Household Targetting System for Poverty Reduction (NHTS-PR). This method carefully and thoroughly checks who among the households belong to those families under the poverty threshold. It is not the local government official who handpicks a certain beneficiary but a system that aids our implementors,” Garcia added.

Beneficiaries of the 4Ps program are also chosen based on the 2003 Small Area Estimates (SAE) of the National Statistics and Coordination Board (NSCB). This was conducted in different poor municipalities in the country.

Garcia also acknowledged the help of various government agencies like the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Commission and Elections (COMELEC) and the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) for being their constant partners in disseminating pertinent information to the public.

Aside from members of the media, Garcia also encouraged members of the community and other stakeholders to take part in the said campaign by reporting and documenting Anti Epal perpetrators. Those who want to give information related to the said campaign may call or text CP number 0918-912-2813 , or they may visit the nearest DSWD offices in their area. (MAL/LSM-PIA5/Camarines Sur)

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