DSWD chief holds convergence mission in Ilocos Norte; assures social welfare access for all Pinoys

Credits to Luzon Morning Sun

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has reiterated that the government’s social welfare programs can be accessed by all Filipinos regardless of their socio-economic status.

“Ang social welfare naman, hindi naman iyan para sa mahirap lamang, minsan iniisip nila hindi sila pwedeng lumapit sa DSWD pag may kaya sila, baligtad ho. Tulad ng sinabi ko, ang social welfare ay para sa lahat. Sa oras ng pangangailangan, sa oras ng krisis, dapat yung gobyerno mo ay nandun kahit sino ka man, basta Pilipino ka,” Secretary Gatchalian said in a live interview with Radyo Pilipinas Laoag on Thursday (July 2).

According to the DSWD chief, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has instructed all the members of the executive branch to guarantee the effective and inclusive implementation of all government programs.

“Ang utos at direktiba ng ating Pangulo ay napaka-simple lamang, patatagin ang mga programa, siguraduhin na mabilis na makarating sa tao, at siguraduhin na epektibo ang mga programa,” Secretary Gatchalian told Radyo Pilipinas Laoag.

Following President Marcos Jr.’s order, the DSWD chief went to Batac, Ilocos Norte for a Convergence Mission to observe the implementation of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and to hold a ‘kumustahan’ session with program beneficiaries.

“Bahagi sa mandato ng ating Pangulong BBM is to make sure na ang development ay hindi lang sa mga siyudad, kundi ang DSWD ay nasa malalayong lugar din. So nandito tayo sa Ilocos kasi part ito ng routine natin na puntahan ang mga iba’t ibang mga probinsya para ma-monitor natin yung mga programa ng DSWD,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

For his first stop, the DSWD chief went to the Batac Public Market to visit the empanada store of Aldrich Anthony Rivera, a beneficiary of the SLP who was referred by the Department of Justice – Ilocos Norte Parole and Probation Office in 2023.

Aldrich was provided Php15,000 livelihood assistance to set up his empanada business as a way to positively rebuild his life and support his family.

In line with enhancing the 4Ps Family Development Session (FDS) curriculum, Secretary Gatchalian monitored the conduct of “FDS Session 9: Tamang Nutrisyon ng Pamilya,” which municipal links facilitated at the Quiling Sur New Barangay Hall.

The session focused on educating 4Ps beneficiaries on how to prepare age-specific meals to meet the nutritional needs of their families in accordance with the Pinggang Pinoy nutrition guide.

Through a focus group discussion (FGD), the DSWD chief also engaged 4Ps parent-leaders (PLs) and field implementers, who were city and municipal links, to gather insights and suggestions on how to further improve the implementation of the program and address gaps affecting immediate service delivery.

Based on his observations and discussions with the PLs, Secretary Gatchalian was able to gather insights on how to improve FDS in response to emerging challenges on child-rearing in the new age of media and technology.

“May sinabi sila kanina na maganda. Tinuturuan naman natin sila na maging magaling na mga parents pero in light of what’s happening in our country na may mga impluwensya kaliwa’t kanan from internet to bullying – yung mga new age problems – sabi nila, sana may mas paglalalim. And, iyan yung gagawin namin, na hindi na sapat maging magulang, kundi dapat maging magaling na magulang sa ganitong mga panahon,” Secretary Gatchalian told reporters in a separate on-site interview.

The DSWD chief, likewise, emphasized the need to empower the family as a social unit and the capacities of parents on how to discipline and support their children.

“Sa pag-usad ng mundo dahil sa teknolohiya, nagbabago yung mga challenges na hinaharap ng mga magulang, yung mga hinaharap ng mga pamilya. We have to make sure na equipped sila na makipagsabayan,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out. (AKDL)

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