Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, on Monday, April 24, to further strengthen existing ties and discuss possible partnership opportunities on capacitating the social welfare workforce and fighting hunger in the Philippines.

During the British envoy’s courtesy visit, Secretary Gatchalian laid out to Ambassador Beaufils and her delegation the Department’s initiatives to upskill the DSWD workforce and to mitigate hunger in the country.

As part of its plans to further equip and train the social welfare workforce and other service providers offering and implementing social protection packages, the DSWD will revitalize its Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) as an academy for social workers and those involved in social welfare programs.

Through the academy, the DSWD will provide certificate programs and short courses on various fields like social protection and disaster preparedness, among others to further improve the provision of social welfare programs to the poor and the vulnerable sectors.

In addressing hunger in the country, Secretary Gatchalian shared the DSWD’s plans to implement and provide digital food stamps that may be used by its recipients to buy goods in grocery stores and supermarkets.

In response to the Secretary, Ambassador Beaufils, vowed to share the British government’s curriculum and other materials that may be used by the DSWD for its academy.

The British envoy also expressed her government’s commitment to provide technical assistance in the provision of digital food stamps for poor Filipinos.

In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide immediate assistance to indigent Filipinos, Secretary Gatchalian continues to strengthen the DSWD’s relationship with international governments that will contribute to the Department’s fight against hunger and improvement in the delivery of quality services to the public. #