The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) assistance to families hit by Severe Tropical Storm ‘Enteng’ and the southwest monsoon has already reached almost Php250 million, an agency official said on Tuesday (September 10). “In total, the Department has already augmented a total of Php248,385,622.05 worth of food and non-food items to the regions affected by Enteng and the recent habagat,” Asst. Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DMRG) Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency’s spokesperson, said. Asst. Secretary Dumlao also reported that the agency has already released 587,952 family food packs (FFPs) that are either distributed to […]

In the towns of President Roxas and Carmen in Cotabato province, community gardens built under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished) are now helping boost the towns’ local economy through agricultural livelihood opportunities for farmers. Most of the beneficiaries are also farmers operating community gardens. They have successfully ventured into selling their crops to local markets, according to Ryan Hervilla, DSWD Field Office (FO) 12- SOCCKSARGEN project development officer (PDO) of Project LAWA and BINHI. PDO Hervilla is pleased to see […]

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets with executives of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) on Monday (September 9) to discuss a developing project seeking to enhance the agency’s Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (WGP). The meeting explored the ADB’s project called Reducing Food Insecurity and Undernutrition with Electronic Vouchers (REFUEL), which aims to scale up WGP, particularly its utilization of electronic food voucher for food-poor beneficiaries. The DSWD Chief and Asst. Secretary for Innovations Baldr Bringas, who is also the Officer-In-Charge of WGP extended their gratitude to […]

Amid the rising number of recorded seismic activities of Mt. Kanlaon, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has assured that in any eventuality, the agency is ready to assist the Canlaon local government unit (LGU) in disaster response and relief operation. In a report to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday (September 10), Field Office (FO) 7-Central Visayas Regional Director Shalaine Marie Lucero said the FO is working closely with the LGU of Canlaon for the emergency response plan. “Also Sec, we are having refresher sessions with QRT members to be deployed to the area as needed,” Director […]

A senior official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reiterated on Monday (September 9) that availing of services from the agency’s centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs) should always be the last resort by concerned parties. “First of all, the DSWD values family ties, so all necessary measures and interventions must be exhausted before being admitted to a DSWD-managed center or facility,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson, pointed out. According to Asst. Secretary Dumlao, an individual may be admitted to a DSWD-managed residential facility through a court order in cases such as […]

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reported to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr on Friday (September 6) the agency is continuing its disaster response operations for the effects of Severe Tropical Storm “Enteng”, while ensuring that there will be enough relief items in preparation for the possible weather disturbances that could develop in the next two weeks. “Mr. President, tama po kayo, hindi na natin malalaman ‘yung ending ng Enteng response sa incoming storms but based on your last instructions, we are both doing the response, stockpiling, and the procuring all at the same time, sabay-sabay […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has started the payout for the beneficiaries of the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program in Metro Manila, a senior official of the agency announced on Friday (September 6). “The DSWD will conduct the payout for college students who served as tutors and Youth Development Workers (YDWs), and parents and guardians of the elementary school students residing in the National Capital Region (NCR) starting today, September 6,” said Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency’s spokesperson. The amount that the college students will receive for the  20 reading and parenting sessions was […]

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets with Philippine Obstacle Sports Federation (POSF) Chairperson Alberto Agra and National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA) Executive Director Glenda Relova on Friday (September 6) to discuss the program and services for the Persons with Disabilities sector in the field of sports. The meeting focused on how the government agencies and the sports federation can coordinate to open up more opportunities for athletes with disabilities and ramp up the existing programs and initiatives aimed at empowering the sector in the area of sports. Also present during the meeting were Undersecretary […]

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has given recognition on Romeo Catacutan, a social media vlogger, for extending social welfare to poor and vulnerable Filipinos. “We honor these kinds of people. Thank you for your heart for the community at pagtulong sa mga nangangailangan,” Secretary Gatchalian said to Catacutan during the vlogger’s courtesy call on Thursday (September 5) at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City. Romeo “Idol” Catacutan, who is widely known for his commitment to community service and charitable causes, received a special plaque and certificate from Secretary Gatchalian. These deeds, according to the […]