Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian leads on Sunday (October 6) the signing of a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) Executive Director Anna Cabrera that provides animal-assisted therapy in the agency’s residential care services.

Dubbed as ‘Angel Pets’, the program aims to improve the emotional and psychological welfare of the agency’s clients in its centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs).

For the pilot run, the Angel Pets will be implemented at the Marillac Hills – National Training School for Girls (NTSG) in Muntinlupa City and at the Sanctuary Center in Mandaluyong City.

Marillac Hills – NTSG and Sanctuary Center, two of the CRCFs managed by the DSWD, cater to minor girls ages 7 to 17 years old, who are survivors of sexual abuse, human trafficking, and children in conflict with the law; and women who are abandoned, neglected, and unattached with improved psycho-social disability, respectively.

DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay and PAWS Board of Director Cristina Martinez witnessed the MOA signing. #