DSWD defends assistance to viral woman from Makati sewer drain

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday assured that the eligibility of the woman who emerged from a sewer drain in Makati City to receive P80,000 in financial assistance underwent proper review and processing.

"Dumadaan 'yan sa masusing pag-aaral at assessment ng social worker. 'Yung numero, 'di 'yan galing sa akin. 'Di lang 'yan trip namin. Kung hindi, nasa guidelines 'yan," DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(It underwent rigorous study and assessment by a social worker. The number did not come from me. It was not done on a whim. There are guidelines for this.) 

"'Di 'yan bara-bara lamang. 'Yung guidelines, public records 'yan. Nung 2023, nakalathala na 'yan," he added.

(It wasn't done haphazardly. The guidelines were published in 2023 and are part of public records.)  

Images of the woman surfacing from a sewer drain in Makati went viral. The Makati City Police earlier said the woman could have been living in the sewers for a long time.

After a search by authorities, however, the woman denied that she has been living in the sewer. She has said that she went inside the sewer to retrieve a cutter blade, which she uses in scavenging garbage.

Although homeless, the woman said she and her live-in partner have been able to rent a room. 

Hard work

Meanwhile, Gatchalian reiterated the woman's claim that she was just getting her cutter when someone took a photo of her.

"Hindi siya nakatira sa imburnal. Paulit-ulit niya nilinaw 'yun kasi proud siya na one year ago, nakatira sila ng partner niya sa lansangan pero nagsumikap sila," Gatchalian said.

(She does not live in the sewer. She has repeatedly said that because she's proud that one year ago, she and her partner lived on the streets, but they worked hard.)

Gatchalian further narrated that the woman and her partner, who works as a barker, earn about P500 a day to pay their monthly rent of P2,000.

Hurt

According to Gatchalian, the woman was hurt by the online posts about her and her situation.

“Sabi nga nila hindi naman nila hiningi yung P80,000. Hindi niya sadyang pumunta sa drainage kasi hindi naman siya ang lumapit sa atin. Nagkataon lang na na pikturan siya,” Gatchalian said.

(They said that they did not ask for the P80,000. She did not mean to enter the drainage. She did not approach us. It’s just that a photo of her was taken.)

"They make ends meet. Kumbaga gusto nila ma-improve yung sarili nila kaya nga nung inasses ng social worker, ang unang bulong ay off the bat, itong taong to marunong mag manage ng pera," he added

(They make ends meet. They want to improve their lives. When she was assessed, the social worker said she know how to manage her money.)

Sari-sari store

Marilyn Moral, Assistant Bureau Director of DSWD's Social Technology Bureau, earlier told GMA Public Affairs' Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho that the woman asked for help in owning a sari-sari store.

The P80,000 was provided so she could get started with her goal.

"Sa pagkakaalam ko lahat po 'yon ay binili ng goods para itinda niya. Nakatulong naman po siya para maalarma ang lahat. Sana lang po 'wag din lang pamarisan," Moral said.

(As far as I know, all the money was spent on goods she could sell. She was able to help by bringing attention to their plight. Hopefully though, others won't copy what she did.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News