DSWD’s Tulfo sorry for ‘insulting’ remark vs teachers on education aid payout

Social Welfare Secretary Erwin Tulfo on Sunday apologized to teachers after he said they might favor certain students if they get involved in the distribution of the educational cash assistance of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

Tulfo apologized after several teacher groups, such as the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT) and Teachers’ Dignity Coalition (TDC), said that his statement was prejudiced and insulting to them.

The DSWD chief on Wednesday said that teachers may be accused of preferring certain students who are relatives if they are allowed to facilitate the payout of cash aid for indigent students.

“Baka maulit na naman na may pinaburan si teacher dahil pinsan niya ‘yung estudyante niya. Eh alam niyo naman po ‘yung mga teacher natin. Do’n lang nakatira sa paligid-ligid. Baka na naman ma-accuse na naman ho ang mga teacher. Kawawa naman,” Tulfo had said.

(It might again be suggested that teacher favored a student because they are cousins. You know our teachers. They just live around the area. They might get accused. That would be a pity.)

In response to this, ACT Chairperson Vladimer Quetua said that what Tulfo said was irresponsible, stressing that the teachers do not even want the job he was referring to.

“Isa itong napaka-iresponsableng pahayag mula sa iresponsableng opisyal na utak ng palpak na sistema ng pamamahagi ng ayuda para sa mga estudyante. Sir, you cannot cover up your own failures by nitpicking on others. Huwag kami,” he said.

(This is a very irresponsible statement from an irresponsible official behind the sloppy distribution of educational aid for students. Sir, you cannot cover up your failures by nitpicking on others. Don't involve us in this.)

Meanwhile, TDC National Chairperson Benjo Basas said they were hurt by Tulfo’s statement as this questions their integrity as teachers.

“Napaka-unfair na i-generalize ang mga guro dahil ito ay pagkuwestiyon na sa aming integridad,” he said.

(It is very unfair to make generalizations about teachers because this questions our integrity)

“Masakit marinig itong sinabi ni Sec. Tulfo, parang sinasabi niyang mandaraya ang mga guro at nagbibigay ng pabor sa mga kamag-anak. Eh wala naman kaming kontrol sa mga programa na yan kung sakali, we only facilitate and work based on the policies,” he added.

(It hurts to hear what Sec. Tulfo said. He seems to be saying that teachers cheat and favor their relatives. We don’t have control over these programs, we only facilitate and work based on the policies.)

For his part, Tulfo said that he did not mean to offend teachers. What he meant to say was that teachers might be accused of favoring some people if they are tapped in the distribution of financial aid for students.

“Hihingi lang ho ako ng pasensya at paumanhin sa mga guro natin na nasaktan doon sa sinabi natin. Sinita tayo ng ACT Teachers party-list na hindi maganda ‘yung nasabi natin na pinagdududahan ang mga teachers natin doon sa pamimigay ng ayuda,” Tulfo said in a dzBB interview.

“Hindi ganun eh. Ang sinabi ko ho ay baka mapag-isipan sila o maakusahan na namimili na dahil may mga kaanak,” he added.

(I would like to apologize to the teachers who were hurt by what I said. The ACT Teachers party-list criticized me for saying something ugly, that I doubted our teachers in the distribution of aid… It's not like that. What I said is that others might think it or they might get accused if they have students who are relatives.)

Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte had meanwhile backed public school teachers, saying they “have always been models of professionalism, and their dedication and commitment to public service go beyond self-interest.”

“Ang nagpapalakas ng pundasyon sa propesyon ng ating mga guro ay ang kanilang dignidad. (What strengthens the foundation of the teacher’s profession is their dignity). They embody selflessness, and their love of country and fellowmen is something that cannot be questioned,” Duterte said in a statement on Thursday.

Duterte also said that the Department of Education was still willing to coordinate with other government agencies like the DSWD for programs aimed to benefit both teachers and students. — DVM, GMA News