CAGAYAN de Oro City - The Department of Social Welfare and Development-10 (DSWD-10) reminded the public that election candidates, even incumbent elected officials, cannot enroll or remove beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Director Nestor Ramos
In a statement Friday, DSWD-10 Regional Director Nestor Ramos said only the agency has the authority to include or delist families from 4Ps, one of the government's poverty alleviation programs.
Ramos said the 4Ps is a poverty-reduction initiative of the national government and is being implemented with other national government agencies in coordination with non-government organizations and civil society groups. He said the program's implementation is monitored by a multi-stakeholder group and as such, no political personalities have a say on its operations and policies. The regional director has also assured the 4Ps beneficiaries that they can vote during the May 14 barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections without fear of being delisted from the program, no matter who they voted for. Ramos added the DSWD is no longer enrolling families to the program since it has already conducted its second round of household assessment last 2015 the "Listahan," the national household targeting system of the national government that identifies who and where the poor are in the country. "We have already finalized our list of beneficiaries for the 4Ps, and we are now making sure that these families are benefiting from the Program through their children's education and health," he said. Should there be families who are not included in the 4Ps but no need assistance from DSWD, Ramos said the agency has other social protection programs that can cater to their needs such as the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), social pension, Assistance for individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), among others. "We would be happy to assist them provided that they fall under the qualifications of the programs we have," he said. To date, there are 268,503 active 4Ps beneficiaries in Northern Mindanao, the DSWD-10 said. Among the provinces in the region, Bukidnon has the most number of 4Ps members with 86,853, followed by Misamis Oriental with 72,576; Lanao del Norte, 68,538; Misamis Occidental, 34,764; and Camiguin, 5,772. [Jigger J. Jerusalem, PNA]
INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections assures poll workers who will render service in the 2018 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Elections that they will be paid the full sum of their compensation upon the completion of their election duties on May 14, 2018. According to the COMELEC Finance Service Department, the honoraria and travel allowances will be paid either in cash or through the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) cash card. For certain priority areas, poll workers will be paid in cash. In other places, they will receive their compensation through DBP cash cards. The payment of their compensation will be made by the Election Officers of their respective localities.
As per R.A. 10756 or the Election Service Reform Act, the following poll workers are entitled to the corresponding honoraria: Chairperson of the Electoral Boards, PhP 6,000; Members of the Electoral Boards, PhP 5,000; Department of Education Supervisor Official (DESO), PhP 4,000; and Support Staff, PhP 2,000. Additionally, they are entitled to a travel allowance of PhP 1,000 each. Pursuant to Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Ruling No. 003-08 dated April 14, 2018, honoraria and travel allowances are subject to 5% withholding tax. [Education and Information Department, COMELEC]
INTRAMUROS, Manila - Having a candidate's name included in the drug watchlist of the government would not automatically disqualify or bar him from running in an election, the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) clarified on Friday. COMELEC Spokesman James Jimenez explained that only a final judgment on the alleged crime - a court conviction - would disqualify a candidate's bid for public office, apart from other factors of disqualification. "Having your name on the list of drug suspects or people suspected to be involved in the drug trade will not really have an effect on what the COMELEC does," Jimenez said in a press briefing. "Being on [a] drug list will not disqualify a person from running for office. Disqualification only comes from a final judgment against the person, apart from other reasons for disqualification," the polling body official said. [Julius N. Leonen, Inquirer.net]
MANILA (26 Apr 2018) - Malacanang on Thursday confirmed that President Rodrigo Roa Duterte has ordered the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to release the names of village officials in his so-called "narco list". "President Duterte has ordered the PDEA to disclose the names of barangay officials included in the list of all those allegedly involved in the illegal drug trades," Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace press briefing. Duterte made his order three weeks before the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (youth council) elections set on May 14.
On Wednesday, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino revealed that those included in the list are 89 barangay chairmen and 122 barangay kagawads. The PDEA chief said the list originally contains 216 names but five barangay captains were taken off the list as they will be subject to further validation, adding that it would release the drug list within this week.
Meanwhile, Roque extended the country's appreciation for China's support to the Duterte administration's campaign against illegal drugs. "We are grateful for China's support to the campaign against illegal drugs through personal training, drug detention, confiscation, and testing equipment," Roque said. The Philippines and China signed the protocol on cooperation against illegal drugs on Oct. 22, 2016, during Duterte's first visit as President to Beijing. Duterte had repeatedly said he would finish his war against illegal drugs until the last day of his presidency in 2022. [Jelly Musico, PNA]
INTRAMUROS, Manila - The Commission on Elections (COMELEC) on Sunday said there is no need for candidates in the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) polls to attach their bio-data and campaign platforms in Certificates of Candidacy (COCs). "It actually has no bearing in the filing of COCs. The Election Officer will accept the COC forms, with or without bio-data (and) program of government," COMELEC posted on Twitter. The clarification was issued after receiving queries if the poll body added new requirements in the filing of COCs. The COMELEC, however, noted that it would be better if poll aspirants who will file COCs will include such documents. "This will help you in informing and educating voters in voting wisely come campaign period," the COMELEC added. The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) earlier urged COMELEC to require barangay and SK bets to submit their bio-data or resume. Last Saturday, the poll body started the period of filing COCs for the village and youth polls, which will run until Friday, April 20. COCs must be filed with the Office of the Election Officer that has jurisdiction over the barangay, where they are seeking office, between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Meanwhile, Commissioner Rowena Guanzon advised would-be candidates to make sure that they are not members of any political party. "Be aware: Candidates for barangay positions will sign Certificate of Candidacy that states they are not members of any political party, group, or coalition of parties," she posted on Twitter. Under Section 38 of the Omnibus Election Code, no person, who files a COC, shall represent or allow himself to be represented as a candidate of any political party or any other organization during the barangay and SK elections. "They could be penalized in accordance with the provisions of the Omnibus Election Code, which is a criminal offense," Guanzon added. [Ferdiand Patinio, PNA]
