The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will continue to be a watchdog to protect the poor, marginalized and vulnerable sectors against any forms of abuse and exploitation.
This was emphasized by Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the Saturday News Forum at the Dapo Restaurant in Quezon City on April 5, following several incidents affecting the sectors of solo parents, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
“Every day, kahit hindi election period, maninilbihang watchdog at taga pagtanggol ang DSWD ng ating mga naaapi o bulnerable, at kami mismo, we will take the initiative of filing cases laban sa mga mang-aabuso, mang-eexploit, at mananakit sa napapabilang sa bulnerableng sektor,” Secretary Gatchalian told reporters.
The DSWD chief underscored that protecting the marginalized is not just a responsibility but a sacred duty that the agency takes seriously.
Secretary Gatchalian assured the public that any form of abuse—whether verbal or physical against vulnerable sectors will be taken by the agency seriously and ensure that proper interventions will be provided.
“Maging tao tayo sa kapwa tao. Let us not resort to making fun of other people’s lives. Lalung-lalo na yung mahirap ang pinagdadaanan. Napakahirap maging solo parent, maging person with disability,” the DSWD chief pointed out in the news forum.
On the incident involving solo parents and an elderly with disability, the DSWD chief said the agency is ready to provide necessary support to the local government unit (LGU) and other groups taking the lead in filing cases.
“We will provide assistance to the LGU sa pagsampa ng kaso, sa case build up,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief said the agency will also provide financial assistance and psychosocial and emotional support to the elderly with disability.
“Hindi lang financial assistance, we are reaching out to the elderly para masigurado yung psycho-emotional. Sa ganito na may pinagdadaanan na exploitation, verbal or physical abuse, emotional distress, psychosocial and emotional support ang importante,” Secretary Gatchalian pointed out.
The DSWD chief said the agency’s social workers were already deployed to ensure that beyond financial assistance, the emotional distress of those abused is also being addressed. (YADP)