The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) experienced a backlog of documents that need signatures after the Commission on Appointment (CA) bypassed the ad interim appointment of Sec. Erwin Tulfo.
DSWD Usec. Eduardo Punay said on Wednesday, December 28, that his designation as officer-in-charge seeks to ensure that the agency's programs will continue.
"May mga kontrata, transactions ng DSWD, or administrative functions na kailangan ng signatory ng isang signatory," Punay said during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
"Nung hindi na-reappoint si Sec. Erwin ay talagang nag-hintay at nakabinbin itong documents na ito. Patong-patong ito na nasa kanyang opisina na kailangan natin ihabol bago matapos itong taon," he added.
Punay, however, assured that the undersecretaries and executives of DSWD managed to fill in the void left by Sec. Tulfo.
"Tuloy-tuloy naman yung pagtakbo sa mga program dahil meron naman tayong mga executive committee, marami tayong undersecretaries sa DSWD, na patuloy na nagtratabaho," Punay said.
As temporary OIC, Punay stressed that he only has limited authority in DSWD.
"Hindi tayo pwedeng pumirma ng mga bagong kontrata, hindi tayo pwede magtanggal ng mga tao, ng mga opisyal," the DSWD executive clarified.
On Tuesday, December 27, Malacanang announced that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. named Punay as DSWD officer-in-charge.
Punay takes over the helm of the DSWD after the Commission on Appointment deferred the confirmation of Sec. Tulfo due to questions regarding his citizenship, and previous libel convictions.
