Managers of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the Central Office had the opportunity to immerse themselves in one of the agency’s projects — the Walang Gutom Kitchen (WGK)– where they had an outreach activity and acted as ‘servers of the day’ to clients who availed of free meals.
The outreach activity held on Tuesday (July 8) was part of the 10th regular meeting of the members of the management committee (MANCOM).
It was an opportunity for the DSWD officials to exercise leadership by example and experience direct interaction with program beneficiaries.
Exposure to the WG Kitchen helps the movers of the Department to check on the strengths and weaknesses of the WGK and to better strategize for improvements.
Asst. Secretary Baldr Bringas of the DSWD’s Innovations and Program Development Group (IPDG) and MANCON chairperson welcomed the members and gave an overview of the WGK which is located in the former POGO hub in Pasay City.
“Former POGO hub, pugad ng illegal activities, but now we converted it to a center of dignity, a center for operations, and for second chances. Its purpose is now to serve our beneficiaries and communities with compassion,” Asst. Secretary Bringas told the MANCOM members.
The WGK is the innovative idea of Secretary Rex Gatchalian and is the first government food bank technology in the country.
As part of the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), the WGK addresses the involuntary hunger of indigent individuals in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr for a zero hunger Philippines before his term ends in 2028.
As volunteer-servers of the day, the MANCOM members were assigned with various tasks that include food preparation and serving, managing the smooth flow of people, and interacting with clients.
Some of the directors were also assigned at the TARA Basa corner where children-clients are taught how to read, write, and do art activities.
The DSWD executives were able to serve a total of 483 individuals during their immersion session.
Immediately after their immersion, the MANCOM members proceeded to a formal meeting to deliberate on two policy recommendations.
The first proposed policy was a draft administrative order providing the guidelines for the conduct of hybrid digital payment which was presented by OIC- Director Keisha Nguyen of the Financial Service (FS).
Director Nguyen said the draft policy responds to the need to utilize the digital technology for a more efficient pay outs whenever possible.
The DSWD official emphasized that the guidelines are for a hybrid strategy and include manual pay outs for clients and beneficiaries who have no access to the digital technology.
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DMRG), who is also the agency’s Data Protection Officer, presented the draft memorandum circular for the enhancement of the Department’s data privacy manual.
After much deliberation, both policies got the nod of the body with corrections and will be endorsed for final review and approval of the Executive Committee (EXECOM).
MANCOM members who volunteered as ‘servers of the day’ were Directors Clarissa Lara Duran, Gemma Gabuya, Edmon Monteverde, Helen Suzara, Maria Isabel Lanada, Jennifer Rizo, Peter Paul Ang, Kaye Sapacano, Marilyn Moral, and Precilla Docuyanan.
Joining the MANCOM meeting through the online platform were Director Elma Salamat, OIC-WGP Program Manager Camille Anne Taguba, and Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Innovations Marcelo Nicomedes Castillo.
The DSWD MANCOM, composed of assistant secretaries and directors, is a consultative body to institute closely coordinated work among bureaus and service units, which also undertakes a complete review and integration of input for proposed guidelines, position papers, policies, issuances, and other policy instruments. (GDVF)