The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is expanding its Pag-abot Program to Region 3 (Central Luzon) and CALABARZON to reach out more children, individuals, and families in street situations.

Undersecretary Edu Punay of the DSWD’s Innovations and Program Development
Group (IPDG) said on Friday (March 14) the expansion, as directed by Secretary
Rex Gatchalian, reflects the agency’s full commitment in serving the most vulnerable sectors by addressing the circumstances of people in street situations.

“With the institutionalization of the Pag-Abot Program under Executive Order No. 52, the program is now scaling up to provide wider and more sustainable support at the regional level,” Undersecretary Punay said.

The DSWD’s Field Office in CALABARZON officially launched its first reach-out activities on March 3 in Bacoor City in Cavite; Lucena City in Quezon province; and Antipolo City and Cainta in Rizal.

The DSWD’s Field Office in Central Luzon is set to commence its reach-out operations by the second quarter of 2025.

Launched in 2023 in the National Capital Region (NCR), the Pag-Abot Program has reached out to 3,037 families, 880 children, and 960 individuals in street situations.

Of these numbers, 519 individuals were provided with assistance under the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS); 990 persons under the care services of the agency-managed centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs); and 4,113 beneficiaries were successfully reintegrated to their respective provinces.

To prepare for the expansion, the DSWD’s Pag-abot Regional Program Management Offices (RPMOs) in Central Luzon and CALABARZON underwent a series of orientation activities to provide them with in-depth training on reach-out processes to ensure a smooth, safe, and effective implementation.

As part of the capacity-building efforts, a ‘Lakbay Aral’ was conducted in Cainta, Rizal last January 13, and in Pasay City and Caloocan City on February 6-7.

“These activities allowed regional personnel to observe best practices firsthand and gain insights into effective street reach-out strategies. During the visits, the Pag-abot National PMO also demonstrated the use of key program tools, including the e-profiling tool, which enhances data collection and case management,” Undersecretary Punay pointed out. (YADP)