DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets with OCD Administrator, Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, to strengthen disaster response operations on Monday, April 17 at the Office of Civil Defense Headquarters in Quezon City.

In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to take proactive measures during calamities, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, along with other DSWD officials, met with the Office of the Civil Defense (OCD) led by Undersecretary Ariel F. Nepomuceno, to discuss ways to make disaster response and efforts more responsive and effective.

During the meeting on Monday, April 17, at the OCD Headquarters in Quezon City, Sec. Gatchalian presented the “Buong Bansa Handa: A Whole-of-Nation Approach for Disaster Preparedness Response” framework.

The framework aims to create two parallel supply chain mechanisms for disaster relief efforts and prepositioning.

It also aims to engage the government at all levels, as well as the private sector in mobilizing resources to address food security and social protection during disasters and crises.

OCD Director Cesar M. Idio led the orientation on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Structure and its Response and Early Recovery efforts.

As the Vice-Chair for Disaster Response Pillar under the NDRRMC, and as the lead agency for Camp Coordination and Camp Management, Protection, and Food and Non-Food Clusters, the DSWD is committed to strengthening its efforts to guarantee the efficient and effective delivery of services and programs to disaster-stricken families.

As part of his visit to the OCD headquarters, Secretary Gatchalian was also given a quick tour of the NDRRMC Operations Center.

The DSWD will continue to explore ways to improve its capacity for disaster preparedness and response so necessary assistance will be immediately delivered to the disaster-affected localities. #

Sa pangalawang pagkakataon sa Gitnang Luzon, ginanap ang Kadiwa ng Pangulo (KNP): Diskwento Caravan. Layunin nito nabigyan ng oportunidad ang mga local food producers na magkaroon ng mas malaking kita sa pamamagitan ng pagbebenta ng kanilang mga produkto. Gayundin ang pagbibigay ng accessible at abot-kayang mga bilihin bilang alternatibong solusyon sa epekto ng pandaigdigang inflation. 

Pinangunahan ni DSWD Region III Director Jonathan V. Dirain ang paghahanda sa mga serbisyong ipagkakaloob ng ahensya sa ilalim ng KNP. Kabilang sa mga serbisyong ito ang Disaster Response, Sustainable Livelihood Program, at Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation. 

Personal namang inabot ni President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. at ni DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian ang mga Family Food Packs at Financial Assistance na may halagang Php 5,000.00 bawat isa sa 480 benepisyaryo.

Samantala, nakilahok ang limang (5) Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) sa KNP kung saan tampok ang mga produkto gaya ng pagkain, gamit sa bahay, dekorasyon, bag, pitaka, accessories at marami pang iba. 

Ang mga SLPAs na lumahok ay ang: St. Paul’s SLPA, Kaunlaran SLPA, Office of the Persons with Disability Affairs SLPA, New Born Baby River SLPA, at Sunshine SLPA.

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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., together with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, handed over cash assistance and family food packs (FFPs) to the identified beneficiaries in Bataan, during the distribution of various government assistance on Friday, March 31, 2023.

Some 934 individuals received Php 5,000 each through the Department’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. The DSWD also distributed 100 FFPs amounting to Php 777,000, under the Food-for-Work Program.

“Ang inyong inaantay nang husto, ang ating Secretary ng DSWD, Secretary Rex Gatchalian. Siya po ang namamahala dito sa pagbigay natin ng kaunting tulong… Nandito po tayo para tiyakin na maganda naman po ang magiging assistance na ibinibigay ng pamahalaan (The one you are waiting for, our DSWD Secretary, Secretary Rex Gatchalian. He is in charge of this distribution of various government assistance … We are here to make sure that necessary assistance and services are being provided by our government.),” President Marcos Jr. said.

Kadiwa ng Pangulo in Bataan

Secretary Rex Gatchalian also accompanied the President, as the Chief Executive brought the ‘Kadiwa ng Pangulo’ (KNP) to Limay, Bataan.

Around 68 participants, including the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) and several Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs) in Region III, joined the presidential caravan aimed at showcasing basic goods and locally-made products which are being sold at cheaper prices to mitigate the effects of inflation.

SLPAs which joined the caravan were: Masagana 4Ps SLPA; Bayan Bayanan SLPA; Saguing SLPA; Torres SLPA; Alion Kapit Bisig SEAK; and Kalipi Seak.

Some of their products include: chicharon; dishwashing liquid; throw pillowcases; brooms; vegetables; cashew products processed into butter; cookies; and beauty products.

Further, CRCFs showcased hand-weaved rugs, crocheted and hand-made crafts, home-baked pastries and cookies, and other household products.

The Kadiwa ng Pangulo is spearheaded by the Office of the President, together with the DSWD, Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), National Food Authority (NFA), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). ###

To showcase the success stories of Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) beneficiaries, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through the SLP-National Program Management Office (SLP-NPMO), launched an online show entitled ‘SLP Kwentong Sibol’ last March 22.

The online show aims to put a human face to the figures and data of the program’s accomplishments by featuring true-to-life experiences and testimonials of SLP beneficiaries. This platform is also being used to disseminate accurate, factual, and clear information about the program.

“SLP Kwentong Sibol” hopes to present different journeys of SLP beneficiaries so that the  public could have a deeper understanding of the program and how it brings significant change to its program participants.

For the pilot episode, SLP OIC-Director Edmon B. Monteverde was invited as a resource person to provide basic and essential information about the program, including its goal, eligibility requirements, and selection process.

“Inaasahan natin na mas mapalawak pa ang ating maaabot sa pagbabahagi ng mga istorya ng tagumpay at kabuhayan ng ating mga benepisyaryo. Layunin din natin na mas maipakilala ang programa sa mas nakararami nating mga kababayan (We hope to further expand our reach by sharing the stories of success and livelihood of our beneficiaries. It is also our goal to introduce the program to a wider audience),” Director Monterverde said.

Likewise, the story of Ms. Marjorie Ibarbia, a woman beneficiary leader of a Sustainable Livelihood Program Association (SLPA) in Pasig City was featured. Ms. Ibarbia started to become an SLP participant in 2017 when she and four other individuals from their area formed an association. Their association, called “Pasig Line 2 SLPA” offers garment products, specifically curtains for different use.

Providing livelihood to Filipino households

SLP is a capability-building program that seeks to improve the program participants’ socio-economic status by implementing two different tracks. These include the Micro-enterprise Development (MD) Track which is designed for those who want to start a sustainable micro-enterprise and the Employment Facilitation (EF) Track which assists participants to land jobs that are appropriate to their skills and competencies.

Based on the Department’s Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 22 series of 2019, each household can enroll a maximum of two members pursuing two different tracks. A participant of the MD Track must be at least sixteen years old with written legal consent from the parents or the legal guardian while a participant in EF Track must be at least 18 years old upon employment.

Moreover, participants who passed the selection process and attended the required SLP orientation and skills training are eligible to receive livelihood assistance grants. For MD Track, participants may receive a maximum of Php 15,000.00 capital seed fund while EF Track participants may be provided with an Employment Assistance Fund of not more than Php 5,000.00 or a Skills Training Fund of not more than Php 15,000.00.

The program aims to improve the socio-economic conditions of its participants through accessing and acquiring the necessary assets to engage in and maintain a sustainable livelihood. ###

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian delivers his heartfelt message of support towards a more consultative and inclusive implementation of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project on Tuesday, March 28, 2023 in Manila.

Recognizing the need for a more consultative process of implementing government programs, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) held a Mayor’s Forum with local chief executives and other local officials to enhance the implementation of the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) on March 28, 2023 in Manila.

The PMNP is a holistic project that aims to harmonize the delivery of nutrition-specific and nutrition-sensitive interventions to reduce stunting in targeted localities around the country.

The DSWD will serve as one of the co-implementers of the PMNP together with the DOH.

In his message, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the local chief executives of a stronger partnership with the Department.

“We want to make sure that your voices are heard. We want to make sure that this is collaborative and consultative. Ito ho yung magiging driving principle ng DSWD sa mga susunod na panahon sa tuwing maglalabas po kami ng mga programa” (This will be the driving principle of the DSWD in the future whenever we release programs), Secretary Gatchalian said.

The Secretary also mentioned the need to create a holistic plan to combat stunting in the country.

“There are things that we can do that are a stimulus to fighting stunting. For instance, day care centers, WASH facilities, improvement of food security facilities, yung mga bagay na ito noon tinitignan natin sila not as health interventions but stand-alone interventions. But now, ang kakaiba rito, itatali ho natin sila lahat into a holistic program that both looks into nutrition-specific and the nutrition-sensitive angles of it. Naniniwala tayo na kapag pinagsabay-sabay natin itong mga solusyon na ito, sa madaling panahon, makikita natin na bababa at bababa yung numero ng stunting sa ating bansa” (There are things that we can do that are a stimulus to fight stunting. For instance, day care centers, WASH facilities, improvement of food security facilities. We used to look at these things not as health interventions, but stand-alone interventions. But now, the strange thing here is that we will tie them all into a holistic program that both looks into nutrition-specific and the nutrition-sensitive angles of it. We believe that when we combine these solutions, soon, we will see that the number of stunting in our country will be decreasing),” added Secretary Gatchalian.

As co-implementer of the program, the DSWD will hold community-based nutrition service delivery and multi-sectoral nutrition convergence through the Kapit-Bisig Laban Sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS) program.

Kalahi-CIDSS utilizes the community-driven development (CDD) approach which empowers community members to actively participate in identifying and prioriti

Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets (left photo) Ambassador of Finland to the Philippines Juha Markus Pyykkö and (right photo) representatives from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), headed by Country Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov (7^th from left) on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with Ambassador of Finland to the Philippines Juha Markus Pyykkö and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Country Representative Oyunsaikhan Dendevnorov in separate courtesy calls on Monday, March 27, 2023, to discuss possible partnerships on the different areas of social protection and development.

During his meeting with Ambassador Pyykkö, Secretary Gatchalian discussed the Department’s initiatives to streamline its existing programs and processes and to revitalize its Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) as an academy to further equip and train the social service workforce, especially the social workers; non-government organizations; local government personnel and other service providers offering and implementing social protection packages.

The Secretary also mentioned that the DSWD is gathering best practices, contents, and training modules, among others for the academy.

In response, Ambassador Pyykkö introduced the study on the Home-Grown School Feeding (HGSF) Programme of the Finnish Government. The study, which was led by the Finnish Centre of Expertise in Education and Development (FinCEED), aims to provide comprehensive analysis of the scope, gaps, effective and enabling interventions, and recommendations for the implementation of HGSF in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).

Furthermore, the Ambassador expressed his commitment to share the study with the DSWD. The Secretary said that the study may be adapted by the Department for its Supplementary Feeding Program and may also be utilized in the academy.

In a separate meeting, Secretary Gatchalian met the representatives of UNICEF to expand collaboration on child protection. The Department plans to assess its Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCFs) and upskill and equip the house parents and other professional practitioners inside the centers. The Secretary also recommended actions to be taken related to promoting pathfinding models to end violence against children at the local level.

Country Representative Dendevnorov vowed to share their best practices; help the Department in the assessment of the centers; and offered to take part in the academy by sharing their modules and to train the trainers of the academy on areas of social protection, poverty reduction, and planning and budgeting among others.

The DSWD continues to build and expand its partnerships with other organizations for the improvement of the social welfare workforce and to better improve the quality of services for the benefit of Filipinos.