SUMMARY
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MANILA, Philippines – Blogger Mocha Uson appeared at the House of Representatives on Tuesday afternoon, September 13, during the second round of budget briefing in support of Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo.
Mocha Uson attends the 2nd round of DSWD budget briefing @rapplerdotcom pic.twitter.com/K1aNsSdQGP
— Patty Pasion (@pattypasion) September 13, 2016
Uson, through a Facebook video, earlier called on fellow supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte to back Taguiwalo after she was grilled by lawmakers during the first round of budget briefing on September 1. (READ: Congressmen on DSWD’s ‘anti-padrino’ memo: We hold the money)
“Hindi na kailangan ng isang kapos-palad nating kababayan na dumaan pa sa pulitiko para humingi ng tulong sa DSWD. Ganito kasi nakagawian,” she explained in the video. (The less fortunate among us do not need to secure a politician’s help to avail themselves of DSWD services, which was a common practice.)
“Ang gusto nila ay ‘yung dating gawi na dumaan muna sa kanila ang hihingi ng tulong bago dumiretso sa DSWD. Bakit? Kasi power ‘yan eh. Gusto nila sa kanila humihingi ang constituents nila, sisiguraduhin nilang botante ang mga ito, para sila ay pakinabangan. Susubuin na lang ng mga kababayan natin, aagawin pa ng hinayupak na congresman na ito,” Uson said.
(What they want is the old practice where people would go through them first instead of going directly to DSWD. Why? Because that’s power. They will ensure that the constituents they are helping are voters so that they can make use of them. Instead of our fellowmen directly getting the money meant for them, these are stolen by these damn congressmen.)
Her video has garnered more than 2 million views and 49,000 impressions since its posting on September 10.
Several lawmakers, including Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas, questioned Taguiwalo’s Memorandum Circular 9 (MC 9) that essentially weakens politicians’ endorsement powers in screening potential beneficiaries of DSWD’s assistance programs. Fariñas is a staunch Duterte ally.
MC 9 reminds DSWD staff that referral letters from politicians is “not integral” in identifying program beneficiaries. It also confines the release of funds within the premises of DSWD offices.
Budget deliberations for the agency was suspended the last time due to the number of lawmakers who wanted to interpellate Taguiwalo. DSWD is so far the only agency that has to go through more than one scheduled budget hearing. – Rappler.com
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