The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reminds the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program of their right to vote in the upcoming Barangay Elections. Through the Bawal ang Epal Dito (BAED) Campaign, the beneficiaries are once again reminded that the program is a project of the national government and not of any politician or political party.

The BAED Campaign was initially launched during the midterm Elections to protect the program and the beneficiaries from undue politicking. This is due to reports that some individuals and groups were using the program for their advantage in the Elections.

The DSWD advises beneficiaries to vote based on their free will and not on persuasions and threats from individuals and groups, especially with regards to their status as beneficiaries of the program. The BAED Campaign, however, does not prevent the beneficiaries from supporting any politician but is only a reminder that the program must not be used for anyone’s advantage in the Elections.

With the stakeholders of the Barangay Elections closer to the program-beneficiaries this time, the DSWD has strengthened the implementation of the BAED Campaign through entering into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), which was signed by all agencies last October 1, 2013.

According to the MOA, the three agencies will work hand in hand in the dissemination of the right information to the beneficiaries and conduct monitoring and fact-finding on election-related grievances. The DSWD will handle the initial investigations on grievances and will forward the complaints to the appropriate agencies upon validation.

Through an orientation with the DILG, COMELEC and Association of Barangay Captains in all provinces in the CALABARZON Region, the DSWD has gained the partnership of these stakeholders to ensure that the rights of the beneficiaries are protected in the upcoming elections.(NJMM)***