DSWD relaunches anti-Epal campaign in Cordillera

BAGUIO CITY, Philippines - The regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched anew its "Bawal Ang Epal Dito" campaign for the barangay elections on October 28.

The regional DSWD office warned local politicians against using the goverment's conditional cash transfer program "4Ps" (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) to court votes from their constitituents.

“No one has the right to delist a beneficiary from the Pantawid Program.  Only DSWD National and Regional Office has the right to do so,” DSWD-Cordillera Regional Director Leonardo Reynoso.

Reynoso said that 4Ps beneficiaries are removed from the program only if they will not comply with the health and education requirements as well as the monthly Family Development Sessions.

First launched during the May 2013 polls,  “The Bawal Ang Epal Dito” was launched after the DSWD confirmed reports that “some politicians were using the CCT Program to influence voters especially its beneficiaries.”

This coming barangay elections, the anti-epal campaign is re-launched to emphasize to the 4Ps beneficiaries that they have the right to choose their local leaders freely without being threatened or intimidated.