PBA Party-list Rep. Migs Nograles (Ellson Quismorio/ MANILA BULLETIN))
House Deputy Majority Leader Puwersa ng Bayaning Atleta (PBA) Party-list Rep. Margarita “Migs” Nograles is pleading to barangay officials in Davao City to allow her group to carry out assistance or “ayuda” programs in their respective jurisdictions.
“As members of Congress, at bilang isang Dabawenya our role is to be an extension of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) to ensure that bona fide beneficiaries receive the aid they need,” Rep. Nograles said in a statement Wednesday, July 10.
“Kaya nga po, nakikiusap kami sa mga barangay capitan at mga opisyales na payagan na po kami na makapasok sa inyong mga barangay,” she said.
(That’s why, we appeal to the barangay captians and officials to let us inside your villages.)
“Kumakatok kami sa inyong puso na makipagtulungan tayo para maibaba at maihatid ang nararapat na tulong para sa mga taumbayan, para sa mga Dabawenyo,” she added.
(We knock on your hearts, let’s cooperate in handing down and delivering to the people the assistance that is due to them, for Dabawenyos.)
Davao is the bailiwick of the Duterte political can, the long-time rival of the Nograleses.
Former president Rodrigo Duterte’s sons, Baste Duterte and Paolo Duterte, are currently the mayor and first district congressman of the city.
On Tuesday, Rep. Nograles–daughter of the late former Speaker Prospero Nograles–claimed that her group was being shut out from Davao.
“Yan ginagawa sa Davao City. Basta Nograles, basta PBA [Party-list], bawal pumasok, bawal magbigay ng ayuda, bawal magbigay ng support [sa] mga barangay officials kaya walang napupunta na tulong sa tao…Lungkot no?” she told House reporters.
(That’s what’s happening in Davao City. If it’s Nograles or PBA, they can’t enter, they can’t distribute assistance, they can’t provide any support to the barangay officials, that’s why help doesn’t reach the people…sad, right?)
Rep. Nograles clarified Wednesday that her intention to provide help to her fellow Dabawenyos don’t involve politics.
“To prevent unnecessary confusion, gusto ko lang klaruhin na ‘Walang pamomolitika involved sa pagdala ng assistance ng bawat ahensya ng gobyerno para sa mga qualified beneficaries,'” she said.
(I just want to clarify that, “There are no politics involved in government agencies’ delivery of assistance to qualified beneficaries.)
“In fact, dapat nga walang pamumulitika sa pagbigay ng tulong (Providing help shouldn’t be marred by politics). DSWD made it clear that the Department’s funds in Davao are sufficient and are being utilized,” added the ranking congresswoman.
“It is essential to understand that DSWD financial assistance is disbursed directly to the intended beneficiaries and not through any office as an allocation. Ang PBA Party-list, kahit na limitado ang pondo, ay narito para sa inyo hanggang sa makakaya namin. Ang DSWD, kasama ng gobyerno, ay handang tumulong sa Davao kailanman,” she further said.
(Despite having limited funds, PBA Party-list is here to help as much as we can. The DSWD, together with the government, is always ready to help Davao.)
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Credit belongs to : www.mb.com.ph