Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian answers questions from reporters on the new guidelines of Ayuda sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP) and other updates on the agency’s initiatives in a Press Conference on Thursday (March 27) at the DSWD Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City. The Press Conference was in lieu of the weekly Thursday Media Forum of the Strategic Communications Group. (LSJ)

A legitimate child traveling abroad with any one of the biological parents is not required to secure a travel clearance, according to a senior official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). “Kapag po one of the biological parents is traveling with the [legitimate] minor. So, kung kayo po ay nagta-travel na kasama ‘yung magulang, hindi na po kailangan ng travel clearance or certificate of exemption,” Assistant Secretary Ada Colico explained when asked by DZXL on Tuesday (March 25) on who are not required to apply for a travel clearance. The issuance of travel clearance is one of […]

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured on Wednesday (March 26) the rescued Filipinos from an alleged case of trafficking in person in Myanmar will be provided with psychosocial interventions and other assistance to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into their families and communities. “Ang role ng DSWD ay rehabilitation and reintegration. May package of services naman (from different agencies), pero whole-of-government approach. The DSWD will step in, kasama namin ang Department of Health (DOH) in making sure na nade-debrief nang maayos—yung psychosocial interventions. Nandyan ang social workers namin since yesterday,” Secretary Gatchalian said. The DSWD […]

A total of 91 Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs) composed of farmers and agri-vendors from Pangasinan received Php38 million in seed capital fund from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday (March 25). DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the ceremonial turnover of checks under the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP). Close to 2,000 local farmers and agri-vendors will benefit from the capital assistance fund. The DSWD chief said this initiative is more than a financial relief and a part of the agency’s ‘development’ mandate aimed at uplifting people out of poverty by giving them the means to […]

Senior officials from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Central Office and Field Office (FO) 4A-CALABARZON joined delegates from ASEAN member states to serve as resource speakers during a panel discussion at the ASEAN Social Work Day 2025 hybrid celebration on Tuesday (March 25) in Quezon City. The panel discussion underscored the critical work of social workers on disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate resiliency. Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said in her message that the role of social workers and social service workforce are both complex and vital in bridging […]

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian commended the dedication and selfless acts of social workers to help families affected by disasters during the hybrid celebration of the ASEAN Social Work Day 2025 on Tuesday (March 25) in Quezon City. “The engagement of social workers is crucial at all stages in disaster response management, from mitigating its devastating effects through providing humanitarian aid during response efforts, to providing psychosocial interventions to help those affected in rebuilding their lives. Even when their families are also affected by calamities, social workers step out of their homes to help those […]