'Wrong info' leads dozens to troop to DSWD-NCR office for 'ayuda' application

Dozens of people flocked to the office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development - National Capital Region (DSWD-NCR) in Manila to apply for the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) on Friday.

This, despite DSWD officials saying that there was no such application and similar activity scheduled for the day.

"Kahit po kami ay medyo nagulat dahil supposedly naman po na-discuss pa natin ito last week or week ago pa na suspendido 'yung pamamahagi po natin ng financial assistance dahil nga inaayos pa po natin ang pondo," DSWD Assistant Secretary Rommel Lopez said on Dobol B TV.

(We are also surprised because we have discussed this a week ago that we suspended our distribution of financial assistance because we are still working on funds.)

“Humihingi po tayo ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan sa kalituhan na ito. Yung panghihikayat na may impormasyon na payout o assessment na yan ay hindi po nanggaling sa DSWD,” Lopez added in a "24 Oras" report.

He noted that they had distributed forms to those who came earlier and obtained basic information. However, he said it is not the official application form for the SLP or any of their programs.

"Hiningan na po muna namin ng mga paunang impormasyon. Pinagfill-up po namin sila doon sa aming mga form, kinuha yung kanilang mga basic information and from there, titignan namin kung talagang sila po ay magka-qualify at maari po silang tawagan. Then bigyan nalang po ng tama at akmang schedule para po sila ay ma-assess at ma-proseso," Lopez said.

A report by Darlene Cay on Unang Balita on Friday said some of those who went to the DSWD-NCR office have been staying there since Thursday.

A senior citizen, who has been there since Thursday morning, said a neighbor informed them that some people were able to apply for the program and may supposedly receive P10,000.

When she went to the DSWD-NCR, however, she was told that the office is not accepting applications and was asked to go home, the Unang Balita report said.

Some of the waiting applicants were senior citizens, solo parents, and students, it added.

DSWD officer-in-charge Undersecretary Edu Punay was quoted as saying in the report that based on their initial investigation, a vehicle brought some of the people to the office.

Lopez, who is also the DSWD's spokesperson, said they will looked into the wrong information that misled the people.

"Iimbestigahan namin yung allegedly na announcement nga po na may distribution ng assistance na unfortunately nga po ay talagang na-misled yung ating mga kababayan," he said.

(We will investigate the alleged announcement regarding the distribution of assistance that unfortunately misled the public.)

According to him, the DSWD-NCR staff will be instructed to manage the situation better for the convenience of concerned applicants. —Joviland Rita/Sherylin Untalan/KBK, GMA Integrated News