Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo said the two dismissed DSWD-Calabarzon officials over the alleged delaying of food and financial aid for Paeng-hit individuals were reinstated.

In an interview during DZRH’s Dos Por Dos on Monday, Nov. 7, Tulfo said their investigation found that Regional IV-A DSWD Regional Director Barry Chua and Assistant Regional Director Mylah Gathalian had "no fault" in the delayed relief distribution.

"Sinunod naman ng dalawa ang mga procedures at polisiya," he said.

Last Thursday, Nov. 3, Tulfo announced that he relieved the two DSWD-Calabarzon officials and transferred them under DSWD-Central office amid the investigation on the complaint of Noveleta Cavite Mayor Dino Chua.

Mayor Chua earlier said that his constituents had experienced difficulty in receiving food and financial aid due to the tons of requirements including valid identity documents (IDs).

But Tulfo explained that valid IDs are required particularly in the distribution of financial aid.

"Alam n'yo naman sa COA [Commission on Audit], bawat gagastusin ng gobyerno kailangan may testigo o may dokumento. So humihingi kami ng ID. Kung wala namang ID, naiintindihan naman natin na baha o bagyo. At least naman ay listahan ng barangay which we tell them one day before," he said.

Tulfo said Mayor Chua admitted to him that there had been a "miscommunication".

"Medyo tumaas lang daw ang emosyon. Hindi din natin masisisi dahil bilang chief executive, siya ang takbuhan ng kababayan niya at saka kapag nandyan na ang tatlong daang katao ang ngumangawa sayo, siempre matataranta ka which we understand," he added.