Cordillera Administrative Region – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue the implementation of its promotive and protective programs and services in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) during the election ban for the May 2025 mid-term Elections. This comes after the receipt of the approved exemption from the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) allowing the Department to provide assistance to its clients given that it will not, in any way, influence the conduct of the election on 12 May 2025. 

“This order allows us to serve the vulnerable and disadvantaged sectors in the Cordillera Region without any hesitations. With this, our clients and stakeholders would not have to worry if they will be assisted by the DSWD or not”, DSWD FO CAR Regional Director Maria A. Catbagan­Aplaten, PhD shared.

Programs and services that are allowed to continue with the operations include Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), PAMANA, Pag-Abot Program, Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), Social Technologies, and Enhanced Partnership against Hunger and Poverty (EPHAP).

Residential care facilities of the Department including the Regional Haven for Women and Girls (RHWG), Reception and Study Center for Children (RSCC) and Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) will also continue providing services to its residents to ensure that their rehabilitation will not be hampered.

Meanwhile, direct provision of assistance under the Social Pension Program (SocPen), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), and Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) will continue. The unhampered service delivery should also observe the recommendation of the COMELEC that the DSWD should ensure that no electoral candidate should be allowed during the distribution of assistance in whatever nature or form; the DSWD to furnish the guidelines as committed by the agency in its public procurements; and strict observance of these guidelines by the DSWD and its personnel and partners.

“The DSWD FO CAR commits to follow the guidance provided by the COMELEC this election period. In all our programs and services, our personnel are guided by established guidelines and implementing rules and regulations. We also ask for the cooperation of all our partners and stakeholders in the observance of the guidelines for us to have a smooth and unconstrained service delivery this season”, Director Aplaten added.

Individuals who opt to avail of the programs and services of the DSWD may directly visit the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Offices in their respective provinces or visit DSWD FO CAR Regional Office at #40 North Drive, Baguio City. They may also reach DSWD FO CAR through ( +637 4) 661-0430 or ( +632) 396-6580, through e-mail at focar@dswd.gov.ph, or through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/dswdcordilleraregion.## DSWD-CAR Social Marketing Unit -Nerizza Faye G. Villanueva-Trinidad