Erwin Tulfo to close charitable center to avoid conflict with DSWD job

Broadcaster Erwin Tulfo on Tuesday said that he will close down his charitable center to avoid conflict of interest once he assumes the post of secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under the incoming Marcos administration.

During the Laging Handa briefing, Tulfo said that he will leave his office to the party-list Anti-Crime and Terrorism Community Involvement and Support (ACT-CIS), which he himself backs, together with brother and Senator-elect Raffy Tulfo.

“Nag-usap na kami ni Congressman Eric Yap dahil siya ang congressman ngayon ng ACT-CIS, pati si Congresswoman Jocelyn Tulfo. Ipapaubaya ko na ho ‘yan. Isasara ko na muna ‘yang Erwin Tulfo Action Center dahil magko-conflict ho ‘yan sa trabaho ko sa DSWD. I will leave that to ACT-CIS party-list,” he said.

(I have talked with Congressman Eric Yap who is now the congressman of ACT-CIS, as well as Congresswoman Jocelyn Tulfo. I'll let them handle that. I will close down the Erwin Tulfo Action Center first because that will conflict with my work at DSWD. I will leave that to ACT-CIS party-list.)

ACT-CIS topped the party-list race in the recently concluded 2022 national and local elections and secured three seats in the 19th Congress after receiving 2,111,091 votes. The group's nominees who will be the new House members are Edvic Yap, Jeffrey Soriano, and Jocelyn Tulfo, who is married to Raffy Tulfo.

Tulfo added that he will open the gates of DSWD offices to the poor once he sits in office.

“Meron akong instruction ho pag upo natin na buksan ang gates ng DSWD at papasukin–ayokong pumipila sa labas ng bakod ng gate ang mga mahihirap. Gusto ko papasukin dahil ‘yan talaga ang misyon ng DSWD, ang tumulong sa mahihirap. May karapatan sila sa loob ng aming mga opisina,” he said.

(I will give instruction once I assume post to open the gates of the DSWD and let the poor in. I don't want them to line up outside the gates. I want to let them in because that is really the mission of DSWD, to help the poor. They have a right within our offices.)

Tulfo also said that as DSWD chief, he will prioritize the country's COVID-19 pandemic recovery and the faster financial aid and relief good distribution during calamities.

He also called on the public, particularly his critics, to judge him based on his performance as DSWD chief after six months. He said he may let somebody else lead the DSWD if he does not do a good job within this timeframe. — BM, GMA News