In reference to the upcoming national elections, the Department of Social Welfare and Development warns government officials on using the country’s conditional cash transfer program as propaganda to gain supporters.

The department sees that since the program covers 4.4 million households nationwide, it might be used by public officials for their own political interests.

DSWD-9 Regional Director Nestor B. Ramos emphasized that no politician can remove nor include beneficiaries from and in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

“The delisting of beneficiaries is based on the incompliance and disqualification of the beneficiaries to the program conditionalities. No one has the power to take any beneficiary out of the program. The same is true with adding beneficiaries in the program. The inclusion is based on the targeting system of the department,” Regional Director Ramos said.

To combat being politically influenced, the DSWD Pantawid Pamilya promotes active citizenship among its beneficiaries anchored by the tagline Aktibong Mamamayan: Magbantay, Makilahok, at Makialam sa Eleksyon!

The objective is to protect the program and its beneficiaries from undue politicking by providing avenue and opportunity for empowerment through the monthly Family Development Sessions (FDS).

The program provides cash grants to beneficiaries to support the educational and health needs of the poor households.