Following the release of the Commission on Elections’ (COMELEC) new exemption on the poll spending ban for key government programs, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated that the agency remains open in accommodating people in crisis, whether they have referrals or none. “Kahit may referral, kahit na walang referral, lahat ‘yan basta may pangangailangan, tutulungan,” the DSWD chief said during an interview with Ano Sa Palagay Nyo program in Net25 on Thursday (March 20). Secretary Gatchalian assured the public that the agency’s social workers, who are licensed professionals, follow stringent measures to ensure that the […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Strategic Communications is set to hold regional information caravans as part of its campaign to fight misinformation, disinformation, and fake news on the agency’s programs and services. “Ngayong taon po ay magkakaroon ng dalawang information caravan per region. Ang tawag po namin dito ay ‘Tamang Tulong sa Tamang Impormasyon’ info caravan,” Director Clarissa Lara Duran of the Public Relations Service (PRS) told reporters at the DSWD Thursday MediaForum on March 20. According to Director Duran, the information caravan is designed to educate the public onhow and where to access accurate and verified […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to implement the revised and stricter guidelines of the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), a senior official said during the DSWD Thursday Media Forum on March 20. DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the revised guidelines will ensure that systems are fine-tuned to prevent the program from being used for political purposes during the campaign period and to guarantee the responsible use of taxpayers’ money. One of the new provisions requires the public posting of the names of individuals, by province, who received financial assistance under […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) currently has 879 partner-retailers nationwide that offer affordable and nutritious food items to beneficiaries of its Walang Gutom Program (WGP), formerly the agency’s Food Stamp Program. Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Thursday (March 20) 530 partner-retailers are women-led and owned enterprises, highlighting the DSWD’s commitment to women empowerment and economic inclusion. “As the nation celebrates National Women’s Month this March, we extend our gratitude to all these women-led enterprises. Their participation in the Walang Gutom Program helps ensure that families have access to nutritious food while also promoting women’s leadership in […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) proposal for its new community-resilience development project, the Panahon ng Pagkilos: Philippine Community Resilience Project (PCRP) secured a final approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., on Wednesday (March 19). According to Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who presented the final proposal to the NEDA Board, the PCRP will serve as a successor project to the agency’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and IntegratedDelivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) National Community-Driven Development Program (NCDDP). It will focus on strengthening community-based mechanisms to address emerging […]

As the graduation season nears, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) urged Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, particularly students who are eligible for college, to explore government scholarship opportunities to secure their tertiary education. 4Ps Social Marketing Division Chief (DC) Marie Grace Ponce said on Wednesday (March 19) at the DSWD’s 4Ps Fastbreak online program that the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) have scholarship programs that prioritize students from 4Ps households. “Wala pong ino-offer ang 4Ps na scholarship for college students pero may mga katuwang po tayo na […]

A senior official of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated that the agency welcomes partnerships with other institutions and the private sector to address the long-term needs of vulnerable groups, including members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps). “Under the whole-of-nation approach, the Marcos administration aims to create an environment where the private and the public sectors work hand-in-hand to help our country achieve sustainable development. We always reiterate that the DSWD can only do so much within its mandate to help address the needs of poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors; thus, we welcome partnerships […]

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) issues either a travel clearance or a certificate of exemption for minors traveling abroad through the agency’s Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) online system, a senior DSWD official said on Wednesday (March 19). “Actually, sa ating online platform ay nagbibigay tayo ng dalawang permit. Ito nga yung travel clearance at certificate of exemption,” Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs under the Operations Group said in an interview over Radyo Pilipinas Wednesday morning. Asst. Secretary Colico explained that travel clearance is needed for children 14 years old and above who are […]

In line with the celebration of the World Social Work Day on Tuesday (March 18), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) held an online forum to honor the invaluable contribution of social workers in nation-building over the years, and highlight the importance of intergenerational cohesion amid the evolving landscape of the social work profession. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian has underscored the significance of Social Work Day as an expression of appreciation to the vital role that social workers play in improving the well-being of individuals, families, and communities and in promoting social justice and human rights. Anchored on […]