Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo today said that the DSWD Central Office gives its full support to members of many Lumad  and indigenous people’s communities from all over Mindanao and Luzon as they hold the 2016 Lakbayan. Some 3,000 Lumad and 500 indigenous peoples of the Cordillera, Central Luzon, continue reading : DSWD Sec. Taguiwalo welcomes Lumad, Indigenous Filipinos as they arrive in NCR for Lakbayan 2016

Around 200 families living in hazardous seaside areas in three barangays in Manay, Davao Oriental received last week their Certificates of Occupancy to their new homes built through the Modified Shelter Assistance Program (MSAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Davao Oriental Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang led the distribution of certificates. He was continue reading : DSWD turns over new homes to survivors of disasters

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo personally congratulated the 320 internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Zamboanga City who completed their technical skills training program yesterday which was initiated and funded by the DSWD Regional Office IX in partnership with the Zamboanga City local government, the Technical Education and Skills Development continue reading : Sec. Taguiwalo witnesses completion of skills training of Zambo siege survivors

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo has given instructions to DSWD-Field Office X to continue to provide appropriate interventions including aftercare services to the nine Lumad children who got sick while staying in makeshift shelters in front of the Malaybalay Provincial Capitol. The children were brought along by their respective continue reading : DSWD to ensure aid for Lumad children in evacuation centers

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo today said that she will instruct all regional directors of the department’s field offices (FOs) all over the country to monitor more closely the situation faced by Filipinos taking refuge in evacuation areas because of natural disasters and/or man-made calamities. She said that the continue reading : Welfare Secretary appeals for help for Lumad children falling ill in evacuation centers

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo joined thousands of Lumad and other tribal groups in Koronadal, South Cotabato, as they celebrated on Wednesday, August 24,  their Solidarity Festival through a “Sadyandi,” or unity pact. The Sadyandi, a Lumad term, was participated in by eight tribes and Moro groups who expressed continue reading : Sec. Taguiwalo lauds Lumad groups in their support for the gov’t’s peace talks

“Masemento gayud yan, gadan na ako (By the time the road is cemented, I’ll be dead).” This was the usual lament of Austerio Asero, according to his daughter, Jennifer, 32. With tears in her eyes, she recalled how she bantered with her father, saying, “Patitinampo ko yan. Hilingon mo, Tay (I will construct the road. You’ll see, continue reading : The dead man’s wish

The Sama-Bajaus or the sea gypsies as they are universally known for were historically a seafaring nomadic tribe of hunter-gatherers who lived in the waters of the Southern Philippines. They handcraft wooden boats to serve as their home and their workplace. They were born out at sea, lived out at sea, and they died out continue reading : After countless years at sea, Sama-Bajaus now find hope in mainland

For Victoria Rejano-Organo, 49, Aeta tribal chieftain in Barangay del Rosario, Buenavista, Quezon Province, gone are the days when members of her tribe felt left out in community affairs or community-building. Nowadays, Victoria is proud to share that the Aeta tribe in Barangay del Rosario enjoys the admiration and respect of the local villagers. Thanks continue reading : Aetas help bring clean water to their community

At first glance, Maribel Rebadio, 36, a Sama-Bajau, looks without any trace of her tribe. What she may have lost in her physical attributes, she has not lost inside her. For Maribel, what she is doing right now is borne out of her dream for her tribe to be free from poverty. At present, Maribel continue reading : Sama-Bajau mom aspires to create change in her tribe