As much as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) communicates widely to reach vast audience on the anti-EPAL (credit-grabbing personalities) campaign called the “Bawal Ang Epal Dito”, Civil Society Organizations (CSO) from the province of Northern Samar eagerly expressed support to intensify their advocacy efforts during the CSO Forum held at the Pantawid Pamilya Cluster Office in Catarman, Northern Samar last March 20, 2013.

The said event was intended to orient the CSOs to converge with the Department, through any of the areas of engagement such as tulay, bantay, gabay, and kaagapay, depending on the existing services they offer or extend to their clients. They are the SHIFT Foundation Inc., Center for Empowerment and Resources Development, Nortehanon Access Center, Action For Community Empowerment Bobon SEA-Kabayan Inc.,Kadayaw Health Worker Association, Sentro han Pag Uswag Ha Panginabuhi, Eastern Visayas Partnership For Rural Development, Kadayaw Rural Workers Association, An Filipinasnon Kubos Mag-Ugma and Samar Center for Rural Education and Development Inc.

Some participants even asked to provide them copies of advocacy materials which are now installed at the barangays for reproduction. Some offered as volunteers to serve as additional manpower, to augment the Department’s campaign on “Bawal Ang Epal Dito”, through distribution and installation of advocacy materials.

The campaign was launched in the region last February 4, 2013, through a press conference held during the DSWD Anniversary Celebration for the year.

The DSWD “Bawal Ang Epal Dito” campaign’s main thrust is to protect the Pantawid Pamilya Program, from undue politicking and interventions that may affect the program’s integrity. It confronts the issues of external pressures and eliminates the misconception of the beneficiaries about the control of politicians or parties over Pantawid Pamilya. More importantly, It seeks to empower the beneficiaries to know their rights and be vigilant of individuals and or groups who plan to use the program or push for their personal agenda.