The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board’s approval of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (REFUEL) Project will support the scale up of the agency’s Walang Gutom Program (WGP) for 2025-2028. Undersecretary Edu Punay of the DSWD’s Innovations, Programs, and Development Group (IPDG), who also serves as the National Program Manager of the WGP, underscored the importance of building on the gains from the pilot implementation. “The approval of REFUEL enables us to expand and improve the program with stronger implementation systems, enhanced digital infrastructure, and broader partnerships to […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated the necessity of providing accurate information in securing clearance for minors traveling abroad (MTA) to avoid delays in their foreign travel. Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Statutory Programs under Operations Group said the agency follows a stringent process in its issuance of the travel clearance certificate to safeguard Filipino children from child trafficking and exploitation, especially those who are participating in short study grants and out-of-the-country competitions. Asst. Secretary Colico responded to a question of a reporter during the agency’s Thursday Media Forum on April 24 regarding the […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) appeals to clients in need of travel clearance for minors traveling abroad (MTA) to apply for this document early, particularly now that the agency is seeing a surge in volume of requests amid the school break. Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs said requesting a travel permit for minors going out of the country 30 days before their departure is ideal to avoid any delay or inconvenience. “Amin pong pinapaalam sa publiko na ngayon po ay peak season at marami pong nag-aaply sa ngayon kaya kailangan po namin ng […]

“Ngayon po pati asawa ng OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) pwede nang i-consider na solo parent.” This was the explanation made by Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Statutory Programs under Operations Group during her presentation on the salient provisions of Republic Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act at the agency’s Thursday Media Forum on April 24. Asst. Secretary Colico said spouses of Filipinos working abroad for one year and above and belonging to the low/semi-skilled worker category will be regarded as solo parents who are entitled to benefits and […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to organize advocacy activities to help prevent bullying in public schools, an agency official said on Wednesday (April 23). Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency supports the Department of Education’s (DepEd) anti-bullying campaign by conducting capacity-building and learning activities, especially for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). “Bullying is one of the main causes of learning disruption among children and teens. To help address this concern, the DSWD’s 4Ps conducts family development sessions (FDS) to inform parents on the significance of having a nurturing family and school […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now preparing the nationwide implementation of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) for children in Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) in time for the June school opening. More than 1.5 million children in CDCs and SNPs will be provided with hot meals and milk for a period of 120 days from the budget of over Php5.18 billion. DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the SFP provides nutritious hot meals and milk to children 2 to 5 years old in local government unit (LGU)-managed CDCs and SNP, in […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will not totally shift to digital financing platforms in distributing the cash grants of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries. ‘The preference of 4Ps grantees will still be the primary consideration in releasing their cash grants,” Division Chief (DC) Marie Grace Ponce of the 4Ps Social Marketing Division (SMD) said during the April 23 episode of the DSWD’s online program “4Ps Fastbreak.” “Hindi po totally magshi-shift. Yung desisyon pa rin po ay nasa beneficiaries natin dahil ang gusto po natin ay matanggap ng mga beneficiaries yung kanilang cash grants sa pinakamabilis, pinaka-episyenteng […]