CA rejects the appointment of DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo
UNTV News • August 17, 2017 • 5846
MANILA, Philippines — The majority of the 24-member Commission on Appointments (CA) did not approve the appointment of Judy Taguiwalo as secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Taguiwalo chose to stay at the plenary to hear the decision of the CA after facing two hearings on her confirmation.
The number of votes was not mentioned, but some senators have expressed support for Taguiwalo including Senators Juan Miguel Zubiri, Juan Edgardo Angara, Loren Legarda, and several Liberal Party senators.
Zubiri said Taguiwalo was unlike other appointees as she did not represent a political party and was not a politician. “The only thing in her heart is to help the poor,” he added.
The former DSWD Secretary, on the other hand, expressed gratitude to lawmakers who supported her.
Taguiwalo said she stood firm against pork barrel and the tax reform bill, which she said, may be the reason behind the rejection of her appointment.
“I really have a stand against pork barrel, and I stood against that directly,” said Taguiwalo. “Second is the issue on policy differences about the public whether it be the Tax Reform Bill, Free Tuition for Universities, additional SSS pension or gratuity pay for our workers.”
Before the decision of the bicameral body, her alleged link with the National Democratic Front of the Philippines (NDFP) resurfaced again.
Taguiwalo initially denied the rumors but admitted she was recommended by the NDFP to President Rodrigo Duterte for the said DSWD position.
“I have never participated in any of the meetings of government panel and the NDF. I look at my work at the DSWD as part of efforts of the Duterte administration to bring services to the people,”she said.
The hearing also tackled anew the budget for the DSWD and the implementation of the cash transfer program.
In the confirmation hearing, some members of the CA questioned the ability of the DSWD to implement the said program next year.
Taguiwalo is the third cabinet member of the Duterte administration rejected by the CA.
First was former Foreign Affairs Secretary Perfecto Yasay and second was Environment Secretary Gina Lopez.
For its part, Malacañang was saddened by CA’s rejection of Taguiwalo as she had served the Duterte administration with dedication, professionalism and integrity.
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said, the president is now searching for the Secretary’s replacement. – Nel Maribojoc | UNTV News and Rescue
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched a website that caters to complaints and other queries about the Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
The uSAPtayo website will enable the public to ask questions or submit grievances on the implementation of SAP. The uSAPtayo website is accessible 24/7.
“In four easy steps, the public can transmit their grievances: one, visit usaptayo.dswd.gov.ph; two, click makipag-usap; three, fill out the information and upload supporting documents or proof; and four, click submit,” the DSWD said in a statement.
The DSWD cautions the public against fake SAP social media pages and groups that spread misinformation or gather personal information for use by scammers. AAC
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has warned the public against fake social media pages and groups that are spreading false information about the department’s Social Amelioration Program (SAP).
“These pages and groups contain fake reports that aim to misinform the public or gather personal information which can be used by online scammers to perform theft,” the department said in a statement.
The agency added that there have been reports, where SAP recipients are being targeted in phishing scams. SAP beneficiaries are also advised not to give out their M-PIN, One-Time PIN (OTP), or other confidential information to individuals claiming to be DSWD personnel.
The DSWD reminds the public to always seek verified sources such as official government websites and verified social media pages, including the official DSWD Facebook page: https://web.facebook.com/dswdserves. AAC
MANILA, Philippines – Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri on Tuesday said he is free from the live novel coronavirus strain that causes the disease based on the result of his confirmatory test.
In a message to reporters, Zubiri said his PCR-based test conducted by the Philippine Red Cross yielded a negative result.
“Thank you so much for the concern and prayers! I AM NEGATIVE… Thank you to our Lord God above! My confirmatory test with the Philippine Red Cross has come out and shows that I no longer have live RNA cells of Covid-19,” he said.
“What the infectious disease experts have told us is that the DOH result yesterday possibly detected remnants of dead virus cells which is a common occurrence with recovered Patients,” he added.
The senator on Monday said he took a confirmatory test after his three rapid tests showed his body is possessing anti-bodies, and a swab test yielded positive result.
Zubiri was among the eight senators who had to undergo COVID-19 tests on Sunday as part of the safety protocols for attending President Rodrigo Duterte’s State of the Nation Address in Batasang Pambansa on Monday.
The test result prompted Zubiri to cancel his attendance and opted to monitor the event from home.
The senator said the Red Cross’ PCR machines can detect and differentiate live virus from the remnants of the cells.
“Studies from Europe, Asia and the US have shown that recovered patients with antibodies are no longer infectious and if COVID cells are discovered in their system it is most likely remnants of the dead COVID cells which can no longer contaminate as found in extensive studies in South Korea,” he said.
“Ibig sabihin nito ay hindi na po ito nakakahawa at ligtas po ang recovered patient habang meron pa po siyang Antibodies,” he added.
Zubiri, along with Senators Sonny Angara and Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel, contracted COVID-19 in the previous months but they have all since recovered.
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