MANILA – As one of the partners in whole-of-government approach to fight poverty, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is committed to implement President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s instruction to improve its existing programs for the poor, Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Monday.
In a Kapihan sa Manila Prince online show, Gatchalian talked about the ongoing initiatives and updates on the agency’s programs and services to mitigate stunting and hunger, upskilling social workers and paraprofessionals, and reaching out families and individuals in street situations (FISS), among others.
“Tama nga po kayo na hindi naman DSWD lang ang may responsibilidad sa paglaban sa kahirapan. Sabi nga ng ating Pangulo, ang instruction nya, whole-of-government-approach. Kung hindi nga whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach kasama ang private sector. Pero pag pag-uusapan ang DSWD, gusto ko i-highlight yung instruction ng ating Pangulo, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa DSWD, i-improve yung mga existing natin mga programa (You are correct that it’s not only the DSWD which has the responsibility to fight poverty. Like what our President said, his instruction, whole-of-government approach. If not whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach, including the private sector. But to speak about DSWD, I want to highlight the instruction of our President, Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to DSWD –to improve our existing programs),” Gatchalian said.
Additional 4Ps grants
Gatchalian said the agency will continue improving the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) especially that the program has been effective in its goal of breaking the intergenerational cycle of poverty through the exit of households that are now self-sufficient.
“Pero syempre, hindi tayo natutuwa na kung ano lang yun nandyan. Gusto ng ating Pangulo, i-improve yung mga hakbang para ma-improve natin yung 4Ps program (But of course, we are not happy with what is there only. Our President wants to improve the plans so that we can improve the 4Ps program),” he said.
Gatchalian said one of the 4Ps enhancements is the “First 1000-day grant” which will provide supplementary cash grants amounting to about PHP350 per month for female beneficiaries who are pregnant and nursing mothers to further improve the health and nutrition of their children during the critical first 1,000 days.
The DSWD, he added, is also reengineering its system to automate and streamline the process of cash grants payouts of 4Ps beneficiaries.
Investing in social workers and paraprofessionals
The DSWD Academy is one of the priority programs of the agency that offers learning opportunities for the development of the competencies of its partner stakeholders that are needed in the delivery of social welfare and development, as well as social protection programs and services.
The Academy is envisioned as the center of excellence in Asia and Indo-Pacific regions that will provide a sustained high-level of social welfare and development practice for social workers, social welfare assistants, community development practitioners, and other paraprofessionals.
Gatchalian ensured that the FISS reached out under the agency’s Oplan Pag-Abot Program are provided with necessary interventions.
“Pinupuntahan yan, kinukumbinsi na tumira sa aming temporary shelters at doon namin ginagawa ang necessary na intervention (They go there, convince them to live in our temporary shelters and there we do the necessary intervention),” he said.
He added one of the interventions is Balik Probinsya Program that has livelihood grants.
Gatchalian also called on the public and the media to report cases of FISS to the DSWD. (PNA)