The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reiterated the need to uphold the principles of restorative justice in handling cases of children in conflict with the law (CICLs). “Minors who commit offenses do not go scot-free. This has always been emphasized in Republic Act 9344 as amended by Republic Act 10630 or the Juvenile Justice and Welfare Act (JJWA),” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the agency spokesperson, said on Wednesday (April 16). According to the DSWD spokesperson, the JJWA establishes a comprehensive and child-sensitive procedure that ensures the best interest of CICLs through restorative justice. “Children who come into contact […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Manila Water Foundation, Inc. have joined hands to explore the use of Air-to-Water Technology (AWT) in generating potable water for communities in need under the agency’s Kapit-Bisig-Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS). “It’s a sustainable solution. Air-to-water technology can operate even in off-grid locations using solar, hybrid, or traditional power sources. It reduces reliance on single-use plastics, creates local livelihood opportunities, and most importantly, has the potential to generate income at the community level,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said in a meeting on Monday (April 14) […]

Member-agencies of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) National Convergence Team, chaired by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), held their first regular meeting on Monday (April 14) at the Heritage Hotel Manila. Assistant Secretary Baldr Bringas of the DSWD’s Innovations and Program Development Group (IPDG) and concurrent OIC for the EPAHP National Program Management Office presided the meeting. Among the topics discussed in the meeting were the status of the commitments of each member-agency in the EPAHP program and the latest development on the EPHAP Digital Mapping systems for community- based organizations. Also present in […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (REFUEL) Project that will scale up the Walang Gutom Program (WGP) for 2025-2028 has been green-lighted by the National Economic and Development Authority – Investment Coordination Committee Cabinet Committee (NEDA ICC-CabCom). The REFUEL Project that supports the WGP is under the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and to be co-financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ Fund for International Development (OPEC-FID). DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian was able to answer all the queries of the NEDA ICC-CabCom, […]

In preparation for the 20-day tutorial and parenting sessions under the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program this May, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has intensified its capacity-building efforts for college student tutors and youth development workers (YDWs) across the country. “As instructed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, our Field Offices have started training and capacitating college students who will be part of this year’s Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said on Tuesday (April 15). A total of 18,055 college students are expected to participate in a 5-day capacity-building activities across […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assured the public that all its disaster management and response teams from the Central Office (CO) and 16 Field Offices (FOs) will be on standby for any incident that may require the agency’s immediate assistance during the observance of this year’s Holy Week or ‘Semana Santa.’ “As directed by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, quick response teams (QRT) of the Department will remain on standby the entire Holy Week, ready for deployment should any event necessitate their intervention,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said on […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) adopts the whole-of-society approach in addressing poverty and hunger as it vows to continue innovating and intensifying its programs as the agency contributes to the Marcos’ administration’s goal of achieving a single digit poverty incidence and zero hunger by 2028. DSWD spokesperson Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Monday (April 14) the DSWD implements the whole-of-society approach by engaging other government agencies and the private sector to strengthen the implementation of its programs like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Walang Gutom Program, and the Walang Gutom Kitchen. “We have a […]