The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reached out to ‘Daddy Ferdy’, the man with an ‘emotional’ video for his pet dog that was left at home alone after the fur dad was hospitalized.

Daddy Ferdy’s pet dog reminded media of the story of the dog Hachiko, whose loyalty to its owner who died became very popular in Japan and had been the subject of newspaper stories and a movie.

DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said on Saturday (June 21) that Daddy Ferdy was initially assisted by the DSWD Field Office-CALABARZON on May 5 through the issuance of a guarantee letter (GL) as medical assistance under the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Program.

“Nakita namin ang pangangailangan ni Daddy Ferdy bagamat yung kanyang video ay patungkol doon sa kanyang alagang aso. Lalo na at naputulan siya ng paa dahil sa diabetes. Kung kayat, nakipag-ugnayan kami sa kanyang anak kung ano pa ang pwedeng maitulong ng ating ahensiya,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said.

Asst. Secretary Dumlao said a DSWD social worker has already coordinated with Daddy Ferdy’s son who expressed that his father is in need of a prosthesis and a steady supply of maintenance medicines.

“They were advised to process the needed assistance with the DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) after three months since a guarantee letter for medical assistance was just recently issued to them,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

Based on the AICS program guidelines, medical assistance can be availed every after three months or once every quarter.

The AICS program is under the agency’s Protective Services Bureau that provides financial and material assistance, psychosocial support, and referral services to individuals and families in crisis, based on the assessment of licensed social worker.

The assistance, according to the DSWD spokesperson, enables Daddy Ferdy to meet his medical needs so he can go back to his normal life with his son and pet dog. (MBM)