The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public that the agency has sufficient funds as well as food and non-food items (FNFIs) that are ready for distribution to those who will be directly affected by the long dry spell due to the looming El Niño.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday presided a video call meeting with the different Field Offices (FOs) to check on the preparedness of the regional directors for the El Niño phenomenon.

The online briefing, which was co-presided by Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Diana Rose S. Cajipe, was called by Secretary Gatchalian to ensure that funds and other relief items are prepositioned strategically in the DSWD warehouses and are readily available for immediate augmentation to local government units (LGUs).

All the regional directors and officers who attended the video conference affirmed that their respective FOs are on alert and have adequate standby funds and stockpile of food boxes for the anticipated impact of the drought.

Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams in the different regions are also on standby and continuously coordinating with the LGUs to determine ways on how to assist those who will be affected by the dry spell, specially the farmers and farm laborers.

Currently, the DSWD Central Office, the FOs and the National Resource Operations Center have stockpiles and standby funds amounting to more than ₱1.35 billion.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the El Niño will possibly develop in July, August and September and may persist until 2024.

Secretary Gatchalian has instructed all Field Offices to continue their monitoring of the situation in their respective areas so that appropriate response can be immediately provided, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that families affected by disaster will not go hungry. #

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, via video call, and Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Diana Rose S. Cajipe spearhead the meeting with the Field Offices on Tuesday, April 25, in preparation for the anticipated impacts of El Niño in the country.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian  (3rd from left) administers the oath of the newly-appointed Executive Board of the Social Welfare Employees Association of the Philippines (SWEAP) on Monday, April 24, at the DSWD Central Office.

Taking their oath were Ms. Dulceneah Lyra F. Dela Cruz; Mr. Rolly D. Laganga and Ms. Thea Maria Rica S. del Rosario.

SWEAP is the employees union of the DSWD. The union is committed to educating, organizing, and mobilizing workers in the public sector, particularly in the DSWD, towards the protection and promotion of the rights and welfare of fellow government employees. #

GIFT FROM AMBASSADOR. Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian receives an illustrated map of Hungary as a souvenir from Hungarian Ambassador to the Philippines Titanilla Tóth during her courtesy visit to the Secretary on Thursday, April 20 at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.

(Photo 1) DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, together with DSWD officials, welcomes British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils (third from right), Consul Neil James (second from right), and Political Officer Ronn Bautista (right) during a courtesy visit at the DSWD Central Office on Monday, April 24.

(Photo 2) Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian presents a token to British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils during her courtesy visit.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, on Monday, April 24, to further strengthen existing ties and discuss possible partnership opportunities on capacitating the social welfare workforce and fighting hunger in the Philippines.

During the British envoy’s courtesy visit, Secretary Gatchalian laid out to Ambassador Beaufils and her delegation the Department’s initiatives to upskill the DSWD workforce and to mitigate hunger in the country.

As part of its plans to further equip and train the social welfare workforce and other service providers offering and implementing social protection packages, the DSWD will revitalize its Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) as an academy for social workers and those involved in social welfare programs.

Through the academy, the DSWD will provide certificate programs and short courses on various fields like social protection and disaster preparedness, among others to further improve the provision of social welfare programs to the poor and the vulnerable sectors.

In addressing hunger in the country, Secretary Gatchalian shared the DSWD’s plans to implement and provide digital food stamps that may be used by its recipients to buy goods in grocery stores and supermarkets.

In response to the Secretary, Ambassador Beaufils, vowed to share the British government’s curriculum and other materials that may be used by the DSWD for its academy.

The British envoy also expressed her government’s commitment to provide technical assistance in the provision of digital food stamps for poor Filipinos.

In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide immediate assistance to indigent Filipinos, Secretary Gatchalian continues to strengthen the DSWD’s relationship with international governments that will contribute to the Department’s fight against hunger and improvement in the delivery of quality services to the public. #

(Left photo) Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian welcomes Metrobank Foundation, Inc. President Aniceto M. Sobrepeña on Tuesday, April 18 to discuss possible partnership in ending hunger.
(Right photo) Secretary Gatchalian with representatives of the World Food Program, National Food Authority, National Nutrition Council, and Department of Science and Technology’s Food and Nutrition Research Institute.

Photo 1: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian presents a token to Hungarian Ambassador Titanilla Tóth during her visit at the DSWD Central Office on Thursday, April 21. 

Photo 2: DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, together with other DSWD officials, welcomes Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Socorro Inting (2nd from left) and Director Frances CM Aguindadao-Arabe (left) at the DSWD Central Office.

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday welcomed Hungarian Ambassador to the country Dr. Titanilla Tóth, who paid a courtesy visit on the DSWD chief at the Central Office in Quezon City.

Ambassador’s visit to Secretary Gatchalian was made more meaningful as the Philippines and Hungary commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

During their brief meeting, Secretary Gatchalian and Ambassador Toth discussed possible ways to further strengthen the delivery of social protection programs to Filipinos in need of assistance.

The DSWD Secretary provided an update to the visiting Ambassador on the ongoing relief operations in the oil spill in Mindoro Oriental.

Secretary Gatchalian said augmentation assistance is necessary to continuously help the victims to access basic needs such as potable water.

The Secretary also discussed the ongoing preparations to revive its Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) as a learning center to promote and upgrade the social work practice and profession in the Philippines.

In her response, Ambassador Tóth said that the Hungarian government will help the DSWD in its disaster response operations and in the development of certificate programs specializing on social work and community development.

In a separate meeting, Secretary Gatchalian met with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Socorro Inting and Director Frances CM Aguindadao-Arabe for a possible partnership on voter’s education.

The Secretary expressed his support to the Comelec’s initiatives and mentioned that the DSWD is willing to assist them in advocating for the rights of Filipinos to vote and participate in the electoral process.

Secretary Gatchalian continues to meet with international and local development partners in an effort to better uphold the rights and provide appropriate services to the marginalized and vulnerable sectors, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for an inclusive society. #

Layunin ng pagpupulong na ito na pag-usapan at tugunan ang mga suliranin na inihain sa kanila ng kanilang mga ka-grupo at kapwa benepisyaryo ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
.
Sinabi ng Kalihim na lahat ng kanilang mga inilahad na problema ay natanggap ng Kagawaran at gagawan ng kaukulang aksyon batay sa mga alituntunin ng 4Ps.

Binigyang diin ng Kalihim ang kahalagahan ng pakikipagtulungan ng mga grupo ng mga benepisyaryo ng mga programa ng DSWD upang maging matagumpay ang programa.

Hinimok ng Kalihim ang SNPP na tulungan ang Ahensya para maiparating ang tamang proseso ng paghahatid ng reklamo ng mga benepisyaryo gamit ang iba’t-ibang paraan na itinakda ng Grievance Redress System ng programa.

Nangako ang Kalihim na bukas ang kanyang tanggapan para sa regular na pakikipag-usap sa SNPP.

Kasama din sa pagpupulong ang ilang matataas na opisyal ng DSWD kabilang sina Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera;  Assistant Secretary Evelyn Macapobre; Assistant Secretary Marites Maristela at si Director Gemma Gabuya, ang National Program Manager ng 4Ps.

Ang pakikipagpulong na ito ay naaayon sa direktiba ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr na linisin ang mga listahan ng mga benepisaryo ng mga programa ng gobyerno upang masiguro na tanging mga kwalipikado lamang ang mapapabilang dito.

Patuloy na paiigtingin ng DSWD ang ugnayan nito sa iba’t ibang sektor upang lalo pang mapalakas ang mga programa nito laban sa kahirapan. #