Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 23) — No personal information will be included in any public list of beneficiaries who have received emergency subsidies in light of the COVID-19 crisis, said the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in a virtual press briefing on Thursday.
“Ayon sa ating napagkasunduan, ang impormasyon na ipapaskil sa website ng mga DSWD field offices ay ang mga pangalan lamang ng mga benepisyaryo na nakatanggap ng ayuda,” explained Social Welfare and Development Undersecretary Rene Glen Paje. “Ito rin ay pinaskil na ng mga LGU sa mga barangay at alinsunod ito sa utos ng DILG.”
[Translation: Based on what we’ve agreed upon, the only information that will be published in the website(s) of DSWD field offices shall be the names of beneficiaries who have already received the cash aid. This (information) was also posted by LGUs in barangays and this is in line with DILG’s order.]
With this, personal details shall not be published in accordance with the Data Privacy Act, he said.
On Saturday, barangay captains were ordered by the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to post a list of beneficiaries of the Social Amelioration Program in places easily seen by the public, particularly barangay halls.
READ: DILG tells barangays to list social amelioration program beneficiaries for transparency
DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista expressed support for Interior Secretary Eduardo Año’s order saying it will help identify beneficiaries and other people qualified to receive the cash aid.
Paje, echoing Bautista’s sentiments in the briefing, said it will help avoid cases being filed against local government officials for wrongly providing emergency subsidies to unqualified recipients.
