5 days Ago By Cherry Ann Virador
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 has clarified that it was not their agency that barred personnel from the City Social Welfare Services (CSWS) and City Health Office (CHO) from entering venues of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) payout in Barangays Banilad, Opao and Pagsabungan in Mandaue City. Instead, the instructions reportedly came from barangay officials themselves. In a written clarification sent to SunStar Cebu on Friday, April 11, 2025, the DSWD said the local government unit (LGU) of Mandaue had been informed about the scheduled payout and the involvement of Philhealth’s Konsulta program, which would provide medical services during the financial assistance distribution.
The agency said it had requested the City’s Rural Health Unit (RHU) to coordinate with Philhealth’s focal person and provide medical check-ups for senior citizen beneficiaries while they waited for their turn. “The DSWD 7 did not deny entry to LGU personnel; rather, according to the report, it was due to instructions from the barangay,” the statement read. The clarification comes after Mandaue City Administrator Jamaal James Calipayan raised concerns over repeated incidents in which CSWS and CHO personnel were prevented from entering AICS payout venues in Barangays Banilad, Pagsabungan and Opao on April 10 and 11.
Calipayan questioned why CSWS staff, who were present to provide logistical and medical support at the DSWD’s request, were denied entry by barangay officials. He cited a letter from DSWD 7 Director Shalaine Marie Lucero, dated April 2 and addressed to Mayor Glenn Bercede and CSWS head Michael Allan Pielago, outlining the agency’s need for assistance during the payouts. The letter indicated that payouts would be conducted on April 8, 10 and 11 for a total of 2,343 beneficiaries across several barangays in Mandaue.
“Gipahibawo mi asa ang venue, sa mga barangay gyms, ug pila kabuok participants, unya gi-request ang atoang city health personnel through the Rural Health Unit to render assistance to protect the beneficiaries,” said Calipayan. (We were informed about the venue, which would be in the barangay gyms, and how many participants there would be. Then our city health personnel were requested, through the Rural Health Unit, to provide assistance to safeguard the beneficiaries.
) Despite this coordination, barangay officials claimed they were not informed of the City Government’s participation. In Banilad, senior citizens reportedly waited for hours as the payout was delayed from 8 a.m.
until noon due to confusion over the entry of CSWS and CHO personnel. Barangay Councilor Leo Saberon said in a previous interview that their office had not received any direct notification from the DSWD 7 about the involvement of city personnel. He insisted that while a letter may have been sent to the mayor’s office, the barangay should have also received formal coordination.
Political move Calipayan, however, hinted at political motivations behind the situation. “It clearly appears to be a political move. Our CSWS personnel were simply performing their duties.
No politicians were involved in the team, and yet they were blocked,” he said. Another similar incident was reported during a payout in Barangays Maguikay and Opao on April 11, where city health and welfare staff were again denied entry. Calipayan called it “unfortunate” that some barangays seem to be denying the City’s role in the activity, despite the assistance being formally requested by the DSWD.
In light of the incidents, the DSWD has temporarily suspended the Konsulta program as part of its payout activities due to the inconvenience caused to beneficiaries. The agency instructed its staff to inform the CSWDO, RHU and the concerned barangays about the suspension on the morning of April 11. The DSWD also extended its apologies for the short notice given to the barangay, RHU and CSWDO staff.
/ CAV.
