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 lot of good-doers po na tumutulong sa Department para makapag provide tayo ng social welfare assistance to the poor, the vulnerable and the marginalized,” the DSWD spokesperson said.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the DSWD is continuously improving its existing programs like the 4Ps, which is an investment in the health and education of children.
“Naniniwala po tayo, driver po ang hunger sa poverty. Kapag hindi malulusog ang mga bata, nawawalan po sila ng oportunidad para magkaraoon ng magandang kinabukasan. Nakakaapekto po sa kanilang pag-aaral at productivity kaya namumuhunan po talaga tayo sa health and education,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said during a press briefing in Malacanang.
With 4Ps as the national poverty alleviation program in the country, the President has given directives to ensure that beneficiaries are assisted toward an improved quality of life and assist them out of poverty.
The DSWD spokesperson emphasized that the agency constantly innovates and enhances current initiatives, under the leadership of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, as part of its continuing thrust to sustain the development side of the Department.
One of such initiatives is the conduct of job fairs intended for 4Ps families who will be graduating from the program.
The series of job fairs nationwide, which is a collaboration of the DSWD, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), other national government agencies and the private sector, is aimed at helping the families, who are about to graduate from the program, to sustain their improved well-being,
In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, a total of nine job fairs had already been conducted across the country with more expected to be held within the year.
The DSWD also continues enhancing its Walang Gutom Program (WGP) which is the country’s national program to end hunger.
Presently benefitting 300,000 households, the DSWD is currently studying how to further improve the WGP, formerly called the Food Stamp Program initiated by Secretary Gatchalian.
The Department recently launched the Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK) to address involuntary hunger in the country. Under the WGK, food from partners and donors is turned into hot meals for all individuals experiencing hunger.
Piloting with only one kitchen in Pasay City, the DSWD is looking at expanding this initiative according to the DSWD spokesperson.
Addressing the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey results on poverty and hunger, Asst. Secretary Dumlao said the agency believes that the government’s poverty alleviation and anti-hunger programs are already gaining traction.
“Last year naglabas ang Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) na bumaba ang poverty incidence sa ating bansa. Iyan ang nagpapatunay na nag-gain ng traction ang programs at services na ipinatutupad po ng ating pamahalaan. Marami kasing factor na nakaka apekto sa mga mahihirap nating mga pamilya. Last year, nakita po natin, six typhoons occurring in three weeks, at isa po yan sa mga kadahilanan bakit bumababa iyong level of well-being ng kababayan nating mahihirap,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao explained to Malacanang reporters.
Aside from disaster occurrences, other factors like crisis situations, unwanted events, and adverse shocks also affect the level of well-being of the Filipino public and lead to their perceived self-poverty and hunger rating, according to the DSWD spokesperson.
“May iba’t-ibang kadahilanan kung bakit po bumababa ang level of well-being at bakit may mga pamilya na tingin nila nagugutom sila or naghihirap sila. Ang mahalaga po para sa amin, may mga iba’t ibang interventions ang ating pamahalaan, para ma-cushion ang impact nito at hindi po bumaba at ma-trap sa poverty ang ating mga kababayan,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out. (GDVF)