The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Labour and Welfare Bureau of the Government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) affirmed their commitment to work together in protecting the well-being of every Filipino in the Philippines and abroad, during a meeting with Labour and Welfare Bureau Secretary Chris Sun and his delegation on January 9, at the DSWD Central Office.

In his message, DSWD Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Punay emphasized the Department’s efforts to intensify mechanisms in safeguarding the rights and promoting the well-being of Filipinos as one of the Department’s top priorities. The OIC also expressed the Department’s support in strengthening the bilateral ties with foreign governments, such as the Labour and Welfare Bureau of Hong Kong SAR, to ensure that the rights of the Filipinos are being protected and promoted.

He said, “as we continue to share the same vision, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is open to closely work with your agency and develop a meaningful partnership for the benefit of the sectors that we serve.”

OIC Punay also expressed gratitude to the Hong Kong government for their support to Filipino household workers in Hong Kong on their medical and healthcare needs.

To ensure the provision of social welfare programs and services to the overseas Filipinos (OFs) in Hong Kong, the DSWD through its International Social Service Office, deployed one Social Welfare Attaché in the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong.

To date, the DSWD has served some 11,814 OFs in Hongkong through the provision of social welfare and development programs such as psychosocial services; Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS); pre-marriage and marriage counseling services; referral services; socio-cultural and capability building activities; repatriation program and reintegration services among others. ###