Butuan City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Caraga Field Office launched today, February 25, 2013 the anti-epal campaign.

Sixteen (16) members of the media and DSWD Caraga staff attended the activity. Dir. Minda B. Brigoli, explained to the participants the objectives of the campaign.

“Our Department spearheaded this campaign to insulate DSWD programs particularly Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program and its beneficiaries from the control of certain politicians who claim to have the authority to delist a beneficiary if and when they will not vote for them. At the same time, this will be a great opportunity to strengthen the identity of the program that is not merely a dole-out.”

“We want to protect the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries from being used to any political aspirations,” Dir. Minda Brigoli stressed in her message during the campaign launch.

The campaign launch was covered by the press. Dir. Brigoli expressed to the members of the press that as esteemed partners in inculcating correct information to the public. She asked that the media to help in this campaign. She exhorted them to inform the public especially the beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program in the region that only the DSWD Regional and National Offices are authorized to delist a beneficiary if he/she did not comply to the conditionalities of the program.

With the campaign’s tagline, “Makialam. Magsumbong. Bawal ang Epal Dito,” DSWD hopes to eliminate the epal in the implementation of DSWD programs especially the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.

Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program is one of the poverty reduction programs of the government implemented by DSWD. The program provides cash grants to poorest households with 0-14 year’s old children to alleviate their needs in education, health and nutrition. ### (Social Marketing Unit)