PRESS RELEASE
May 21, 2025
Ref: Ms. Myla Monsod
Mobile: 09175121430
DSWD chief supports PBBM’s directive on swift, efficient delivery of gov’t services to vulnerable, marginalized groups
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is fully supportive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive on the need to shift away from politics and focus on governance that directly benefits the public.
In the first episode of BBM Podcast last Monday (May 19), President Marcos said the recent May 2025 election results show that Filipinos are “tired of politics” and want more actions from their leaders, acknowledging public disappointment over slow government services in addressing immediate, day-to-day needs.
“Ito talagang narealize ko na hindi natin nabigyan nang sapat na attention ‘yung mas maliit na bagay para maging mas maginhawa ang pang araw-araw na buhay ng tao. Yung mga ganyang klase, para naman mas maginhawa ang buhay ng tao,” the President noted.
Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured the chief executive that all DSWD officials, personnel and social workers are dedicated and hardworking and they are always ready to respond to the needs of families and individuals in times of personal crisis and natural disasters.
“The whole DSWD supports the call of President Marcos for swift and efficient delivery of government services in order to effectively address the immediate and day-to-day needs of the poor, vulnerable and marginalized groups,” Secretary Gatchalian said on Wednesday (May 21).
The DSWD chief cited that the agency now has a total of 3,000,658 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) which have been prepositioned across the agency’s warehouses nationwide — the highest stockpile recorded so far in the Department’s history.
“This record reflects the DSWD’s untiring dedication to bolster year-round preparation for disasters and calamities. This is in line with the President’s directive toward a more ‘omnipresent’ government response to disasters and calamities, “ Secretary Gatchalian said.
Based on the report of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), the bulk of the more than 3 million FFPS or 2,207,124 food packs have already been delivered and prepositioned at various hubs, spokes, and last-mile facilities across the country.
Under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, the DSWD’s Central Office and Field Offices nationwide continue to provide cash and guarantee letters to families and individuals who are undergoing crisis and are in need of medical, burial, transportation and food assistance.
The Walang Gutom Program (WGP) provides food-poor families with Php3,000 monthly food subsidy in the form of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. Some 750,000 food-poor families have been targeted under the WGP by 2027.
The Walang Gutom Kitchen in Pasay City, meanwhile, continues to address involuntary hunger by providing free, hot meals during breakfast and lunch to all those who want to eat.
The Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the government’s flagship program in breaking intergenerational poverty, continues to cater to more than 4 million household-beneficiaries by providing them with cash grants for the education and health of children from 0-18 years old.
For the last 20 years, the The Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) has helped poor communities build projects such as school buildings, water systems, foot paths, and improvement of roads.
The Panahon ng Pagkilos modality of KALAHI-CIDSS was recently approved for implementation by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board and will officially start in 2026 until 2030 in 500 municipalities in 49 provinces nationwide. Based on the program, the municipalities are allocated Php50 million each for a three-year implementation.#