DSWD warns public anew: Beware of fake enumerators

CEBU, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development has again warned the public of people posing themselves as DSWD workers, recruiting beneficiaries, and asking money from them.

The DSWD-7 Director Ma. Evelyn B.  Macapobre advised the public to be skeptical when somebody approached them and introduced as DSWD enumerator. Macapobre said she received another report that there had been unscrupulous people making money out of the agency’s program.

“Once again, we are warning the public not to engage with unscrupulous people claiming to be from DSWD and asking them to join in their organization,” Macapobre said.

Last July, DSWD also issued a similar warning against fake enumerators that had been extorting money from families promising them to be included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

As narrated before, a woman approached those families who expressed interest to be part of the program and collected an amount of P128. Allegedly, the said amount will be used for cedula and voter’s certification.

The woman assured the victims that after getting things done for them, they will instantly be part of the program. However, this has been clarified by Macapobre months ago saying that their office does not accept nor solicit money from any families who wished to be under the aforementioned program or any programs of DSWD.

Just recently, another report was received by their office that there have been people misrepresenting DSWD. Macapobre again clarified that the DSWD-7 has no involvement and is therefore not related to any of these people who claims to be one of them and ask people to be a member.

She reiterated her warning to the public to be more vigilant and to be more careful this time as many people had been taking advantage of their office and on its program and are tricking the marginalized families.

“Clearly it was a fraudulent activity that could affect the people negatively,” Macapobre said.

“We encourage the public to be vigilant and report immediately to the police if somebody will approach and recruit them using the name of DSWD,” Macapobre added. —/FPL (FREEMAN)