EX-JOURNO PUNAY NAMED DSWD OFFICER-IN-CHARGE

AMID the ongoing government efforts to provide aid in flood-hit areas in Visayas and Mindanao, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr, has appointed former reporter Eduardo M. Punay as the Officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

On Tuesday, Office of the Press Secretary (OPS) OIC Cheloy E. Velicaria-garafil confirmed the new designation of Punay, who is currently an undersecretary of DSWD.

Marcos made the decision after the Commission on Appointments (CA) bypassed for the second time earlier this month, the appointment of Erwin T. Tulfo as secretary of DSWD due to issues on his citizenship.

Garafil said “an announcement will soon be made” on the status of Tulfo in the Cabinet.

DSWD welcomed the latest designation of Punay.

“This is needed to ensure the continuous operations of the agency and that no activities will be derailed or hampered especially now that we need to provide assistance to those affected by weather disturbance in the country,” DSWD said in a statement on Tuesday.

As of Monday, DSWD said it already provided more than P3.2 million worth of humanitarian aid in regions 8,9, and Caraga, which were affected by the heavy rains and flooding caused by the Shear Line and Northeast Monsoon.

It noted more than 34,700 families or 133,443 individuals were affected by the said weather disturbance.

Based on its initial reports, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported at least 13 people from said rains and flooding.

Garafil said the President met with “several officials over various issues including giving immediate assistance to those affected by the shear line rainfall and flooding in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.”

She also said Marcos is also closely monitoring the developments of government response in the affected areas.