Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian is optimistic that the agency’s tie-up program with the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) through ‘Angel Pets,’ will further affirm the efficiency of animal-assisted therapy in the Philippines.
“Animal-assisted therapy is a unique concept in the Philippines. It’s been done before pero hindi institutionalized and sustaining. With this being a unique concept, susukatin natin yung mga positibong epekto, never pa yan nasusukat and we hope that with this, we will elevate public trust towards this initiative,” Secretary Gatchalian told reporters during the media-re-launch of Angel Pets at the Sanctuary Center in Mandaluyong City on Wednesday (February 19).
Initially launched during the PAWS’ anniversary last October 2024, the Angel Pets is an intervention strategy centered on the animal-assisted therapy program.
It is designed to aid rehabilitation and reintegration in vulnerable groups by incorporating positive and enjoyable animal interactions into therapeutic and supportive processes in selected DSWD centers and residential care facilities.
Secretary Gatchalian noted that a localized study on the efficiency of the therapy is much-needed to elevate Filipino’s trust over the therapeutic benefits of animal interactions, which
the DSWD and the PAWS seek to address with the Angel Pets program.
The Angel Pets, as cited by Secretary Gatchalian, has three components. The first component is ALAGA, which stands for Adaptive Life Assistance Given by Animals, includes the deployment of PAWS’ Dr. Dogs to DSWD residential care facilities.
The technical side goes with ARAL or Advocacy, Research and Learning component, and LUNAS SURI or Healing Assessment that are focused on raising awareness on this initiative and developing in-house assessment tools to monitor and evaluate therapy progress.
This process comes critical in gathering baseline and post-intervention scores, documenting client behavior and well-being in relation to the conducted therapy.
“Pero itong using pets for therapeutic effects, nasubukan na ito sa ibang bansa kumbaga itong pilot natin pormalidad na lang pero syempre kailangan nating dumaan sa tamang proseso,” the DSWD chief pointed out.
Secretary Gatchalian said plans are already on the way to expand the reach of this program following its initial 6-months pilot-testing.
The DSWD officially kicked-off the pilot implementation last November 9 in Marillac Hills – National Training School for Girls, a center that provides residential care and rehabilitation for minor girls aged 7 to 17 who are either survivors of sexual abuse or human trafficking, while others are children in conflict with the law.
The Angel Pet sessions were also conducted for the adult women of Sanctuary Center on December 9. This facility serves as a home and refuge to women, 18 years old and above, who have been abandoned, neglected, or are living with psycho-social disabilities.
Secretary Gatchalian said he is excited to see how the program pans out and contributes to the growth and expansion of cutting edge approaches like animal-assisted therapy.
“Kauna-unahang collaboration ito ng DSWD sa PAWS kasi parehas kami na were in the line of giving love and care. Kami love and care sa aming nga kliyente. Sila may mga kliyente rin. Pinagsanib na pwersa ang DSWD at PAWS to show that kindness has a place in this world,” the DSWD chief said.
The PAWS also shared Secretary Gatchalian’s sentiments, citing that this project brings out the best out of their respective expertise to make a positive difference in the society.
“We are very thankful to Secretary Gatchalian because this partnership opens up vast opportunities for us to promote our Dr. Dogs program, and contribute to the healing of people who need it the most,” PAWS Executive Director Cabrera said.