Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Erwin Tulfo said on Thursday, Nov. 3, that he relieved the regional director and assistant regional director of DSWD Calabarzon over the complaint of allegedly delaying the relief aid for Paeng-hit individuals.

Tulfo said the two were transferred to the DSWD Central office while there is a pending investigation on the complaint of Noveleta Cavite Mayor Dino Chua that beneficiaries could not receive aid unless the tons of requirements are met.

The two officials relieved from their posts were regional director Barry Chua and assistant regional director Mylah Gathalian.

“I am doing this, relieving two of my personnel officials para hindi na mangyari ang ganito na sinasabi ni Mayor Chua na ang daming hinihingi na requirements, na binaha na nga.. So para ma-satisfy yung reklamo ni Mayor Chua, ni-relieve ko po,“ Tulfo said during a press briefing on the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act.

“This is very in contrast na sinasabi ng Pangulo na huwag nang pahirapan ang mga biktima ng mga kalamidad,“ he added.

According to Tulfo, Chua and Gathalian earlier told him that some Noveleta citizens were not on the beneficiary list, hence they could not give relief aid.

But Mayor Chua insisted that many were not given aid due to the difficulty of the requirement.

Tulfo assured that the investigation would be independent and fair.

“Itong dalawa kaya ko pinatawag sa office ko at ilalagay ko muna sa office para marinig ang kanilang panig at anong nangyari versus doon sa sinasabi ni Mayor Chua na pinahirapan daw po ng tiga DSWD ang kanilang constituents. Pag-aaralan namin ito,“ he said.

The DSWD Secretary hopes that such situation would not happen again.

“Kaya tayo nagsagawa ng investigation ay para hindi na maulit ang mga sitwasyon na ito sa mga darating na kalamidad lalo pa at ngayon ay nasa typhoon season tayo. Ang gusto lang natin na maayos po ang pagbibigay ng ayuda, food pack man ‘yan o cash man, assistance. Gusto ko maayos at tuloy-tuloy. At dapat nga hindi na po pinapahirapan ang mga kababayan natin,“ he underscored.

About 162,243 families in 126 localities were displaced in Calabarzon due to the onslaught of severe tropical storm Paeng last week, according to the data from DSWD Region IV-A.

As of Nov. 3, Php 20.84 million worth of assistance has been given to the affected families/individuals.