As the nation wraps up the observance of the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Month this May, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to a citizen-centered approach in delivering social protection programs and services.
“Sa batas po natin, kadugtong sa EODB yung sinasabi na efficient government service delivery. Kaya kailangang chine-check natin kung talagang nagiging epektibo at mabilis ang serbisyo kaya nga ‘DSWD at your service’. Tagline ito para masigurado natin na citizen-centered ang ating mga serbisyo,” Director Wayne Belizar of the DSWD’s Management Service (MS) and Committee on Anti-Red Tape (CART) Secretariat said in an interview over DSWD-Teleradyo partnership program, “Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan” on Saturday (May 31).
Under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Director Belizar said the DSWD continues to streamline its systems, remove bureaucratic barriers, and ensure that accessing government support is simple, efficient, and empowering—especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized sectors of society.
According to the DSWD official, the move for digitalization also aims to prevent fixers to further limit the layers human-interactions.
“Alam naman natin ang behavior na kapag mayroong interactions at mahaba yung proseso, nagkakaroon talaga ng opportunity na magkaroon ng mga fixers. Kaya nga rito sa ating ginagawa, sa EODB, sa pangunguna ni Secretary Rex Gatchalian, nagdi-digitalize tayo para nababawasan yung opportunity ng face-to-face kasi online na sya,” Director Belizar explained.
The CART secretariat said the shift to digitalization is also anchored on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s socio-economic agenda on the digitalization of government processes and operations.
“May mga ganyang innovations si Secretary Gatchalian na utos rin ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos. Yan ang isang paraan na ginagawa—-we do innovations, we transfer and shift to digital system para maiwasan ang fixers na nangyayari sa mga programa natin,” Director Belizar said.
Bannering the theme, “Red Tape to Red Carpet: Better Business Movement in a Bagong Pilipinas,” the EODB Month is celebrated every month of May pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 818, s. 2019.
As the EODB Month ends, the DSWD, with Secretary Gatchalian at the helm, stands firm in its mission to bring government closer to the people—by making public service truly people-first.
The ‘Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan’ is anchored by veteran broadcaster Alvin Elchico and co-hosted by Jet Guevara of the DSWD’s Public Relations Service (PRS). It airs every Saturday from 11 am to 12 noon at DWPM Radyo 630. (YADP)