Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian appealed to the public on Friday (May 30) to help in the reach out campaign for families and individuals in street situations (FISS) by reporting to the agency where they see them frequently.

“Una panawagan ko sa mga kababayan natin na nadadaanan yung mga mamamayang nakatira sa lansangan, may Facebook account yung Pag-abot at ang DSWD. Picturan nyo kung nasaan yung location, i-post nyo para makapunta kami ng team. Sa lawak ng Metro Manila, nakita nyo gumagalaw yung mga individuals in streets situations, kailangan namin ng tulong nyo. Tulungan nyo kami sa pamamagitan ng pag-report kung nasaan ang mga pamilya at indibidwal na ito para mapuntahan ng aming mga social workers,” Secretary Gatchalian told reporters in an interview during the reach out operations by the DSWD’s Pag-abot team in Makati City.

Secretary Gatchalian said the reach out teams are still facing challenges in their operations as well as in convincing the FISS to go with them voluntarily.

“Since 2023 ang challenge namin is yung iba, na-threaten. Akala nila sapilitang dadamputin sila. Yung iba, merong konsepto na mas gusto namin iyong kinagisnan namin kaysa yung inaalok niyo. Mas sanay kami sa ganitong buhay. So yun yung mga challenge. Pero hindi kami titigil. Sabi ko nga, may dedicated tayong mga social workers para dito sa programang ito,” the DSWD chief explained to members of the media.

Secretary Gatchalian said this Friday’s operation may be a welcome development amid the challenges as Rose, the woman who emerged from a sewerage in Makati City, has decided to help the DSWD in locating and convincing individuals living in the streets and even in culverts.

During a meeting on May 29, Rose vowed to help in the Department by going out with the Pag-abot team during reach out operations to convince other FISS to go with the team and be given appropriate interventions.

“Yung operation natin kasi ngayong araw, ang kakaiba ngayon, sinamahan kami ni Rose. Kasi kung matatandaan niyo kahapon, sabi niya, hindi siya nakatira sa lansangan — tama ‘yun kasi alam namin may bahay siya. Pero alam niya kung saan yung mga nakatira sa lansangan na nagtatago kapag umiikot kami,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief pointed out that with Rose’s participation in the reach out, the agency is now trying out a new solution that might work out to strengthen the campaign.

“Alam nyo, may isa kami na sinusubukan ngayon. DSWD is always looking for solutions that work. Ngayon ang kakaiba, sinamahan kami ni Rose, yung isa sa kakilala nila na dating nakatira rin sa lansangan. Ang kakaiba lang kay Rose kasi, after one year, gumawa siya ng paraan na mag upa ng bahay. Ginusto niya na magkaroon ng rental kaysa nakatira sa lansangan. Ngayon nakita nyo kanina, siya yung kumakausap kasi kakilala niya sila. Dati rin siyang nakatira dito. At alam niya kung nasaan sila at paano sila kukumbinsihin. So, tingnan natin, baka itong ganitong model might work — na isa sa mga kasamahan nila dati ang magamit namin na kumbinsihin sila,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief said that the agency will continue looking for ways to help FISS in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr to ensure that street dwellers are taken cared of at the Pag-abot Center.

“At kami, hindi kami titigil sa utos ng Pangulo, na ipaabot sa kanila ang tulong ng gobyerno, ang kalinga ng DSWD. Personal instruction ito ng ating Pangulo na palawakin ang pagtulong ng DSWD, lalong-lalo na sa mga walang-wala talaga. At kung may matatawag tayong “poorest of the poor,” palagay ko sila na yung poorest of the poor kasi the mere fact na nakatira na sila sa drainage, talagang hindi katanggap-tanggap yun at sisiguraduhin namin na matulungan sila,” Secretary Gatchalian said. (MBM)