DSWD offices under normal operations amid Tulfo appointment issue

Operation in all regional offices of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) remains normal amid the issue on the appointment of broadcast journalist Erwin Tulfo.

According to Chino Gaston’s report on “24 Oras” on Wednesday, newly-installed officer-in-charge (OIC) Edu Punay said the agency is ready to extend assistance to the victims of the widespread floods that devastated the Visayas and Mindanao during Christmas week.

Malacañang announced that Punay has been appointed OIC of the DSWD on Tuesday, December 27 after the Commission on Appointment (CA) bypassed Tulfo’s reappointment as DSWD secretary due to the issues on his citizenship and conviction of libel.

“Normal naman ang aming mga opisina sa DSWD kasi we're expecting it, but it's part of reality po ito, ng political reality na talagang may mga hindi tayo...beyond our control,” said Punay.

(The DSWD offices are under normal operations because we’re expecting it. It’s part of reality, of political reality that some things are beyond our control.)

But for political analyst Dindo Manhit, Tulfo’s failure to be confirmed by the CA was an issue of qualification and not an issue of “point-of-view”.

“But the way, I look at the President, I think this is not an issue of point of view...but this is an issue of really qualification and fitness for the post, given some legal impediments. And I feel the President might be avoiding having that conflict,” he said, adding that it would be up to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to appoint Tulfo for the third time.

If reappointed, 24 regular members of the CA will convene and vote for the confirmation or bypassing of Tulfo’s appointment. The Senate President will be excluded but will be required to cast his vote if the number of votes will be equal. -- Sundy Locus/BAP, GMA Integrated News