DSWD, DILG to discuss devolution of social welfare services

In the latest Cabinet meeting of the Marcos administration, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) were tasked to coordinate with each other regarding the implementation of the devolution of social welfare and development (SWD) services.

According to DSWD Secretary Erwin T. Tulfo, the President urged the two agencies to review the programs that are set to be devolved to local government units to prevent local politicians from politicizing these programs for their own advancement.

The programs that are in included in the devolution are: Comprehensive Project for Street Children; Assistance to Persons with Disability; Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS); Recovery and Reintegration Program for Trafficked Persons (RRPTP); Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP); Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP); Programs for Older Persons; and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS).

Aside from the discussion on devolution, Secretary Tulfo said that the President also ordered the DSWD to focus its prepositioning of resources in typhoon-prone and flood-prone provinces, specifically in the areas along the eastern seaboard of the Philippines. This is to strategically ensure that there are available food and non-food items for augmentation to municipalities that will be affected by disasters and calamities.

Secretary Tulfo assured the President that the Department will make the necessary adjustments to ensure the prompt provision of social protection services to citizens in need. ###