Edu Punay Biography, Wikipedia, Age, Family, Wife, Net Worth. Edu Punay, a former journalist who covered a variety of beats, has been named as the social welfare undersecretary for special projects, which include the investigation of complaints against social workers.
Edu Punay was a long-time award-winning journalist who covered the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government before joining the administration of Marcos, whose 2022 presidential campaign he covered for The STAR.
The former journalist had previously been assigned to the Presidential Communications Operations Office, but was later reassigned to the DSWD.
Punay has been authorized, according to a Palace memorandum, “to ensure that the day-to-day activities of the DSWD are managed effectively, efficiently, and economically, including the signing of administrative issuances, contracts, memoranda of agreement, or official documents necessary to carry out the objectives, policies, and functions for the efficient and effective operation (of the DSWD), consistent with the authority granted to an OIC under existing laws, rules, and regulations.”
Punay has also been tasked with continuing the DSWD’s ongoing projects, programs, and activities, including fund procurement and disbursement, but she is not authorized to engage into contracts or agreements regarding new programs and activities.
Punay, as OIC, has the authority to engage into contracts regarding the renewal of contractual or casual employees, as well as job order and contractual service workers, to ensure that DSWD activities continue.
A DSWD source verified Punay’s appointment as OIC “internally,” but added that no official announcement had been made as of Tuesday afternoon. A second source confirmed the designation, adding that it was effective on December 23.
Prior to Punay, the DSWD was led by Erwin Tulfo, who was twice passed over by the powerful Commission on Appointments, once in September due to a lack of time and again in December due to concerns about his citizenship and a libel conviction.