A Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) official has reaffirmed the agency’s dual role in providing both immediate humanitarian aid and long-term development along with the DSWD’s core mandate of responding to emergencies and uplifting the lives of the poor and vulnerable sectors.
“Lagi natin pinapaalala na ang DSWD ay may first name at last name. Ang first name niyan ay social welfare, diyan papasok ‘yung mga binanggit na mga social sentiments, mga stop gap measure, mga ayuda. But DSWD has the last name which is social development, diyan pumapasok ‘yung mga programa at serbisyo natin na nag-e-empower sa mga kababayan natin na mga mahihirap, mga vulnerable,” Asst Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said at the National Press Club’s (NPC) Meet the Press on Tuesday (July 1) in Intramuros, Manila.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, told reporters that the “social welfare” component refers to the DSWD’s role in providing immediate and timely support, especially in the face of crisis situations such as illnesses, disasters, and other emergencies.
These safety nets, including the cash aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and relief support during disasters, are designed to cushion the impact of unforeseen hardships.
“Ang pagkakasakit lang ng isang miyembro ng pamilya ay maaaring ma-exhaust o maubos ang resources nila kahit na mayroon silang pangunahing pinagkakakitaan at mayroon silang savings. That’s why the government is there and the DSWD is there, to provide immediate interventions,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.
The “social development” side of the DSWD, as mentioned by the DSWD spokesperson refers to long-term, sustainable, and human capital investment programs that empower individuals and families.
Through initiatives like the agency’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), the DSWD trains and equips Filipinos to become self-reliant by supporting their access to livelihood and employment opportunities.
“So, eventually they’ll be able to fish for their own, they’ll be able to have a better future, ma-improve ‘yung kanilang level of wellbeing, by capacitating them, by building on their competencies, tini-train din po natin sila,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
The DRMG official added: “So again, these are just some of the interventions being provided by the DSWD to help empower ‘yung mga kababayan natin na nangangailangan—so that hindi lang sila basta aasa sa tulong ng gobyerno.”
Other development programs of the DSWD include the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS). (YADP)