MANILA — Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development Chairperson Erwin Tulfo has urged the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to ensure that victims of Typhoon Tino receive fair and proper assistance amid reports of discrimination in Cebu.

“Nakakalungkot at nakakagalit ang mga balitang may mga mislabeling na ginawa ang ibang mga barangay personnel sa DSWD forms ng ilang mga biktima ng Bagyong Tino sa lalawigan ng Cebu. Hindi ito ang unang pagkakataong nangyari ang ganitong insidente at nakakadismaya na patuloy na nagaganap ang diskriminasyon sa mga biktima ng sakuna,” Tulfo said in a statement.

The senator issued the call following a complaint from a resident of Purok Isla Verde in Talisay City, Cebu, who alleged that a barangay official had marked his flood-damaged house as only “partially damaged” on DSWD’s assistance form.

Tulfo, who previously served as DSWD Secretary, said he trusts that current DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian will not tolerate such acts.

“Kilala ko si Sec. Rex Gatchalian at sure akong hindi rin niya ito magugustuhan. Hindi siya papayag na may ganyang nangyayari. Nakikita naman natin na mabilis ang aksyon ng DSWD lalo na sa mga kalamidad kaya alam kong di makakalusot kay Sec. Rex ang ganitong mga gawain sa ayuda,” he said.

The lawmaker stressed that disaster victims should not have to suffer twice — first from the calamity itself and then from irregularities in aid distribution.

“Double whammy na ito kung biktima na sila ng kalamidad tapos magiging biktima pa sila uli ng manipulasyon sa pamamahagi ng ayuda,” Tulfo added.

Tulfo earlier filed Senate Bill No. 254, or the proposed Anti-Discrimination in the Delivery of Social Protection Programs Act, which seeks to penalize selective, discretionary, and discriminatory acts by government personnel in providing social protection assistance.

“From the word itself, it’s an ‘aid’ for the people, so it must be given to the people and nothing less,” Tulfo said.