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DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista witnesses the blessing of the passenger vans for the Department’s Field Offices on December 6.
DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista witnesses the blessing of the passenger vans for the Department’s Field Offices on December 6.

In an effort to further increase its operational efficiency and capacity, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will turn over 16 passenger vans to its Field Offices (FOs).

DSWD Secretary Rolando Bautista graced the blessing ceremony of the vans  before these will be turned over to the FOs.  The Secretary was joined by DSWD officials and personnel from the Central Office and some of the Regional Directors from the neighboring FOs..

Undersecretary Jose Ernesto B. Gaviola of the General Administration and Support Services Group (GASSG) formally started the ceremony by giving an overview on the procurement of the passenger vans. Undersecretary Gaviola shared that the Department of Budget and Management allowed the DSWD to realign its budget to pave the way for the procurement of vans for all the FOs, as part of the Department’s Fleet Replacement Plan for the year 2021.

“Through the collective efforts of the offices under GASSG, we were able to successfully procure these 16 passenger vans. Hopefully by the end of this year, each unit will be delivered or distributed to the FOs,, together with other ICT equipment also procured for our FO counterparts,” Undersecretary Gaviola added.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista (right in all photos) and Undersecretary Jose Ernesto B. Gaviola of the General Administration and Support Services Group (left in all photos) spearhead the ceremonial turnover of passengers vans to Field Office IV-A, represented by Regional Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo (center in the first photo); Field Office IV-B, represented by Regional Director Fernando R. De Villa (center in the second photo); and Field Office NCR, represented by Mr. Louel Soliva (third in the third photo)
DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista (right in all photos) and Undersecretary Jose Ernesto B. Gaviola of the General Administration and Support Services Group (left in all photos) spearhead the ceremonial turnover of passengers vans to Field Office IV-A, represented by Regional Director Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo (center in the first photo); Field Office IV-B, represented by Regional Director Fernando R. De Villa (center in the second photo); and Field Office NCR, represented by Mr. Louel Soliva (third in the third photo)

Meanwhile, the blessing of the vehicles was facilitated by Reverend Fr. John Harvey D. Bagos from the Diocese of Novaliches. Regional Directors Marcelo Nicomedes J. Castillo of CALABARZON and Fernando R. De Villa, Jr. of MIMAROPA, as well as FO-NCR Administrative Officer Louel Soliva were present for the ceremonial turnover of the passenger vans.

Improving the capacity of Field Offices

“These vehicles are not just mere means of transportation. On a bigger perspective, it is a symbol of how we deliver our services to our clients and beneficiaries – mabilis, maagap at nararating kahit gaano pa kalayo,” Secretary Bautista said during his closing remarks.

Secretary Bautista also believed that the increase in DSWD fleet inventory will enable the FOs to further increase their operational capacity. Likewise, these new vehicles will greatly facilitate the program implementation, monitoring and payout activities of all FOs.

“Malayo ang mararating ng mga sasakyan na ito, hindi lamang sa bilang ng kilometrong itatakbo, kung ‘di pati na rin sa dami ng serbisyo namaihahatid sa bawat benepisyaryo,” Secretary Bautista emphasized.

Through these new vehicles, the Department will be able to give hope in every community it will reach. ###