Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday (June 9) joined the Pag-Abot Program team that reached out to families and individuals staying under bridges and other danger-zones in Tondo, Manila.
“Dati kasi ang main operation ng aming Pag-Abot Program ay sa roads, sidewalks, sa overpass at sa underpass. Pero ngayon ang pinagtutuunan natin ng pansin ay yung mga danger zones…mga bridges, drainage systems,” the DSWD chief told reporters on the sidelines of the reach out operation.
The DSWD chief pointed out that danger zones must remain a ‘no-man’s zone’ as bridges and drainages pose great risks to unhoused people especially now that the rainy season has started.
“Sa’min sa DSWD, ang importante sa amin mailikas sila ngayon na nag-uulan na. Amin is to make sure na safe sila, make sure na mayroon silang tinitirhan while these national calamities are about to unfold,” Secretary Gatchalian told reporters.
The reach out operation, which included looking at the situation of families and individuals living under Raxabago Bridge in Tondo, was conducted with the Punong Barangay, which was the result of the DSWD’s collaboration with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).
“Kasama namin ang barangay captain, nasabihan sila ng DILG na sumama sa amin kasi sila ang may convincing power at sila rin ang yung pwedeng magkaroon ng preventive [measure]. Hindi lamang DILG ang kasama naming dito. Importante ang role ng Local Government Units (LGUs), at ang supervising agency nila ay DILG. So, yung mga LGUs, all the way from city halls, barangay halls, lahat yan kasama natin sa pag operate,” the DSWD chief explained.
In his conversation with the families and individuals in street situation (FISS), the DSWD chief assured them that the Marcos Administration is ready to provide holistic forms of interventions to help them find safe shelter and livelihood.
“Yung nakausap ko, ayaw nya kasi rito sya nangangalakal pero pag tinanong mo sila kung ano iyong pwede namin na livelihood na maitulong sa kanila, may mga aspirasyon sila sa buhay. Again magkaroon ng tindahan, magkaroon ng mas stable na source of income. Kaya nga nung doon natin na-anggulo kinausap ay napapayag naman natin,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
As of press time, two families and one individual in Tondo, Manila were reached out during the morning operation.
The Pag-Abot Team will continue reaching out to more FISS for the whole day.
Secretary Gatchalian also told reporters the plan to expand the Pag-Abot Program in Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog Regions.
“Ang plano natin is palawakin, paigtingin kaya ngayon tinitingnan na natin yung mga ilalim ng tulay, yung mga drainage. So, hindi tayo titigil hanggang wala ng Pilipino na nakatira sa lansangan o sa danger zones,” the DSWD chief said.
Joining Secretary Gatchalian in the reach out were Undersecretary Edu Punay of the Innovations Program and Development Group (IPDG); Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG); Director Clarissa Lara Duran of the Traditional Media Service; and, Officer-in-Charge, Deputy Program Manager (DPM) Marilyn Moral of the Pag-Abot Program.
The DSWD’s continuous reach out operations is part of the marching order of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. to ensure that no FISS will be left out in the cold danger zones. (AKDL)