The subsidized rice to be provided by the Department of Agriculture (DA) is available to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and members of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“Ang ganitong hakbang ay malaking tulong para sa ating mga kababayan na araw-araw ay nagsusumikap na maitawid ang kanilang pamilya. Ito ay patunay na hindi nakakalimutan ng ating gobyerno ang ating mga bulnerableng kababayan,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said on Tuesday (July 1).

Beneficiaries may avail of the Php20 per kilo rice in select Kadiwa ng Pangulo stores located in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 3 (Central Luzon), CALABARZON, and MIMAROPA.

“Mayroon ding mga Kadiwa pop-up stores sa NCR na maaaring puntahan ng ating mga 4Ps members, persons with disabilities, solo parents, at senior citizens. Mayroon sa mga siyudad ng Malabon, Manila, Pasig, San Juan, at Taguig,” the DSWD spokesperson said.

Aside from the Kadiwa stores, there are also accredited non-Kadiwa outlets in Metro Manila offering rice at the same affordable price.

In Region 1 (Ilocos Region), beneficiaries may proceed to the Lingayen Municipal Hall in Pangasinan to avail of the discounted rice.

To be eligible, beneficiaries are reminded to bring valid identification for proper verification.

“Para sa ating mga senior citizen, kailangan nilang dalahin ang kanila mga senior citizen ID; sa mga solo parent, Solo Parent Identification Cards (SPIC); sa persons with disabilities, kailangan ang kanilang persons with disability ID; at gayundin sa mga 4Ps household beneficiaries,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

For the full list of Kadiwa and non-Kadiwa rice outlets, program beneficiaries may check the link: https://bit.ly/P20Rice_KadiwaStores, or they may visit the official website of the DA. (YADP)

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This was emphasized by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian in a no-holds-barred interview last June 19 over the program ‘Long Take’ with Ces Drilon.

Secretary Gatchalian said the Department values both statistics and the sentiments of the public in the conceptualization, implementation, and in the evaluation of the agency’s programs and services.

This is in response to the misconception that the DSWD disregards self-rated polls, preferring the surveys conducted by the Philippine Statistic Authority (PSA), as raised during the interview.

“We use both. We will never dispute data. And data is king in the DSWD…in fact, doon sa hunger (program), Globe wanted to work with us. Sabi namin, huwag na mag-donate. Why don’t you commission the Social Weather Stations (SWS) to track down our program? Para alam namin kung yung intervention gumagana,” Secretary Gatchalian told Drilon.

In the SWS survey commissioned by Globe, the results showed that the hunger incidence among the 300,000 beneficiaries of the DSWD’s Walang Gutom Program (WGP) went down.

The data culled from the self-rated SWS survey is an indication that the program is gaining traction and will serve as a platform for further improvements, according to the DSWD chief.

Aside from data, the DSWD chief said social workers, similarly, are of great importance to the Department.

The data is needed in providing a basis in the selection of targets and in developing the right program while social workers provide their skills in case management and input their experiential knowledge.

The DSWD chief opined that combining the data available and the experience of the social worker will result in an efficient implementation, especially needed in alleviating poverty, which does not happen overnight.

“Experiential is our social worker. Kasi lahat ng programa namin mula ayuda, sa AICs, AKAP, lahat yan may case management. Experience is about case management.
Our social worker will go to you, interview you, assess you, alamin kung anong kailangan mo at anong problema ng pamilya mo o ng indibidwal,” Secretary Gatchalian explained.

Expressing appreciation for their work, the DSWD chief told the Long Take host: “Magagaling yung mga social workers ng DSWD,” sharing that efforts are currently being made so that more can be given regular items instead of contractual positions. (GDVF)

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“Ulitin po natin na tanging mga senior citizen na mahihirap, may sakit, mahina, o may kapansanan at walang tinatanggap na pension, tulong mula sa kapamilya, o permanenteng pinagkakakitaan para masuportahan ang kanyang pang-araw araw na pangangailangan ang maaaring tumanggap ng buwanang pension sa ilalim ng Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens mula sa DSWD,” Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs said.

Asst. Secretary Colico said the SocPen is a program under Republic Act No. 9994 or the “Expanded Senior Citizens Act of 2010” which provides a monthly stipend amounting to Php500 to indigent senior citizens to augment their daily subsistence and medical needs.

With the enactment of Republic Act No. 11916 also known as “An Act Increasing the Social Pension of Senior Citizens,” which lapsed into law in July 2022, eligible indigent senior citizens now receive a monthly stipend of Php1,000 from the previous Php500 per month starting January 2024. The amount is distributed to the beneficiaries on a monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly basis.

“In a May 2024 DSWD memorandum circular to all regional directors, it was emphasized that if monthly releasing of stipend is not feasible, the allowed frequency of payment shall only include bi-monthly and quarterly releasing,” Asst. Secretary Colico pointed out.

The law, which is currently being implemented by the DSWD, covers a total of 4,085,066 qualified “indigent” senior citizens and not yet to all senior citizens in the country which is considered the “universal coverage”.

“We would like to explain that the DSWD’s SocPen program is different from the Universal Social Pension Bill,” Asst. Secretary Colico said.

The DSWD official advised the public to disregard social media contents mentioning that all Filipino seniors, rich or poor, are entitled to receive social pension because these are not true.

“Some posts contain information that may mislead the public, especially the vulnerable. Again, the DSWD would like to reiterate to only refer to our official social media accounts and website,” Asst. Secretary Colico said. (MBM/YADP)

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DSWD Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao said an initial 92 Mercury Drug branches honored DSWD-issued GLs last June 2 while agreements with the other outlets were still being finalized. With the additional 82 stores, there are now 174 outlets nationwide that can accommodate the GLs issued by the agency’s Field Offices.

“This is another big step forward in our relentless efforts to help our clients in meeting their medicine requirements with the help of Mercury Drug Corporation. Ngayong nadagdagan pa yung mga participating stores, mas marami nang kliyente natin ang makakabili ng gamot or maintenance medicines mula sa ating partner-drugstores,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD spokesperson, said on Monday (June 30).

A GL is a document issued by the DSWD in favor of the beneficiary, particularly to its AKAP and AICS clients in need of assistance. It is addressed to service providers that guarantees the payment of the service on behalf of the client, including prescription medicines.

The 82 Mercury Drug stores will accept the GLs issued by DSWD’s Field Offices in Regions 1-Ilocos Region, 2-Cagayan Valley, 3-Central Luzon, CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, 5-Bicol Region, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

“With this, we look forward to enhancing our clients’ experience around the country. Gaya nga ng kagustuhan ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., we are making sure that the comfort and welfare of our kababayan are always prioritized in all the development efforts the Department is embarking on,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.

To further guide clients, a sign indicating “DSWD Guarantee Letter is accepted here” will be displayed in participating stores.

AICS clients may contact or visit the nearest DSWD Field Office for the complete list of Mercury Drug Stores accepting agency-issued GLs. They may also check the DSWD’s Facebook post on the list of the 82 branches: https://bit.ly/82participatingstores

The AICS is one of the social protection programs of the DSWD that provides financial assistance in the form of medical, funeral, transportation, food, and cash relief, including material aid, psychosocial support, and referral services to individuals who are in crisis, as assessed by social workers.

The AKAP provides direct financial assistance to individuals affected by inflation whose income falls below the minimum wage set by the Regional Tripartite Wages and Productivity Board (RTWPB). (LSJ)

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“Since the beginning of the Marcos administration, we have been clear with our intentions to end hunger in the country. We acknowledge that this is a challenge that needs a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach as we continue to scale up the Walang Gutom Program by broadening its reach and tapping partners who can help up with this endeavor,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, the DSWD’s spokesperson, said on Monday (June 30).

Currently, the DSWD supports 300,000 food-poor households or around 1.5 million individuals by providing monthly food assistance worth Php3,000 per family through the WGP.

“As Secretary Rex Gatchalian often emphasizes, ending hunger may be difficult, but it is possible. The DSWD is still in the right track of reaching 750,000 food-poor families by 2027. We are prioritizing the provinces and communities with the highest rates of food insecurity,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao stressed.

The SWS survey, conducted from April 23 to 28, noted that 20 percent of Filipino families experienced involuntary hunger at least once in the past three months.

Last year, Globe Telecom commissioned the SWS to conduct a survey on the WGP. Results showed that among WGP program beneficiaries, the share of households experiencing ‘moderate’ hunger dropped by 4.1 percentage points —from 48.7 percent in October 2024 to 44.6 percent in December. This is in contrast to the 6.1 percent hunger rise among non-beneficiaries of the WGP which stresses the impression that the improved conditions of WGP beneficiaries can be directly connected to the anti-hunger program.

Asst. Secretary Dumlao also noted other initiatives being done by the DSWD to alleviate hunger and malnutrition such as the Walang Gutom Kitchen and the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP).

“The operations of the Walang Gutom Kitchen remain open to serve hot and nutritious meals to individuals and families in street situations. The DSWD already has plans to expand this community kitchen in the future after its pilot implementation in Pasay City to minimize food wastage and provide meals to those in need,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.

With the start of classes, the SFP is expected to serve 1.5 million children aged 2 to 4 years who are enrolled in supervised neighborhood play (SNP), and children aged 3 to 5 years enrolled in child development centers (CDCs) for school year 2025-2026.

As the lead agency of the Enhanced Partnership Against Hunger and Poverty (EPAHP) and co-chair of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Zero Hunger (IATF-ZH), the DSWD has consistently convening partner agencies to ensure alignment with national priorities and initiatives in reducing food insecurity around the country. (AKDL)

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Director Edwin Morata of the DSWD’s Crisis Intervention Unit (CIU) said the agency has policies in place to ensure that programs such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) are protected from being taken advantage by any political party or individual.

“It’s very clear as part of the policy (of AKAP) that no one can use the program for their political advantage. Even the presence of those political individuals during our pay-outs (are being discouraged),” Director Morata said in response to allegations that the agency’s programs were “weaponized” during the 2025 midterm polls.

For the AKAP implementation, the CIU chief said the DSWD has issued Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) No. 2025-01 with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA, now called the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development) to maintain the integrity of the AKAP as a targeted social assistance program for below minimum wage workers.

Director Morata emphasized that the DSWD accommodates all people in crisis, whether they have referrals or none.

“For AICS, wala kaming tinitignan it can be low or high income. It can be rich or poor. It can be professional or not, may trabaho o wala,” the CIU head told reporters at the forum.

Under the AICS program, the Department can provide burial, medical, food, transportation assistance, and help in hospital bills payment through the issuance of guarantee letters (GL).

The program also offers psychosocial interventions such as psychological first aid, and counseling, among others.

The AKAP, on the other hand, provides financial assistance to individuals earning below the minimum wage since they are the most affected by inflation and economic hardship.

“Both assistance are based on the assessment of DSWD’s social workers,” the CIU chief said. (AKDL)

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“Ito ang mga bawal: pagbenta at pagbili, bawal ang pag repack, pagpalit na laman—-hindi pwedeng palitan ang laman. Violation ito sa RA 10121,” Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) Leo Quintilla, who is also the Officer-In-Charge of the DSWD-National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB), said on Saturday (June 28) over DZMM’s Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan.

SAS Quintilla said covering or removing the official DSWD label, or giving the items to people who are not eligible to receive them are also considered violations of the law.

The RTEFs and other family food packs (FFPs) are intended solely for individuals and families affected by calamities and emergencies, according to the NRLMB head.

“These are distributed free of charge by the DSWD or through local government units (LGUs) to ensure that basic needs are met in times of crisis,” SAS Quintilla said.

The prohibited acts, under RA 10121 include diverting or misdelivering of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities to persons other than the rightful recipient or consignee; accepting, possessing, using or disposing relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities not intended for nor consigned to him/her.

Another prohibited act is misrepresenting the source of relief goods, equipment or other aid commodities by either covering, replacing or defacing the labels of the containers to make it appear that the goods, equipment or other aid commodities came from another agency or persons; repacking the goods, equipment or other aid commodities into containers with different markings to make it appear that the goods came from another agency or persons or was released upon the instance of a particular agency or persons.

“Pwede kang kasuhan kapag nilabag mo ang mga ito,” the NRLMB chief said.

According to SAS Quintilla, food items inside the RTEF box which include five cans of tuna paella, one can of chicken pastil, one can of giniling, two packs of arroz caldo, three packs of champorado, two protein biscuits, and one complementary food for infants, are also printed on the box, making it easier for the receipients to check if the box has been repacked or tampered.

“What is important also is nandito na sa box yung content o anong laman. Alam ng tao anong laman, dapat pagbukas ng tao ay ito ang mga laman ng RTEF box,” SAS Quintilla pointed out.

The ‘Serbisyong DSWD for Every Juan’ is anchored by veteran broadcaster Alvin Elchico and cohosted by Jet Guevara of the DSWD’s Public Relations Service (PRS). It airs every Saturday from 11 am to 12 noon at DZMM Radyo Patrol 630. (YADP)

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“Ito ay step forward toward the right direction in disaster preparedness… part of being disaster resilient. Ang utos ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr, hindi ‘yung nandon na ‘yung evacuees, saka lang tayo mag-iisip ng ganito. Pagsunod natin ito sa utos ng pangulo pagdating sa disaster preparedness,” DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said during the signing of the prepositioning agreement between the DSWD and PPA on Friday (June 27) at the Manila North Port Passenger Terminal.

The agreement captures the deal between the DSWD and PPA to store RTEF in PPA-managed storing facilities nationwide to expedite aid delivery. It is intended for stranded passengers during typhoons that disrupt sea travel.

The DSWD chief said this deal is critical in bringing RTEF to life, the newest innovation of the Department.

The RTEF, which contains pre-cooked meals and ready-to-eat snacks, expands the DSWD’s range of relief goods and addresses the previous lack of food aid that does not require cooking.

“Marami kaming kits sa DSWD, meron tayong regular family food packs, meron tayong sleeping kits pero wala tayong ready-to-eat. Kasi ‘yung regular family food packs natin, kailangan pang iluto, kailangan nasa evacuation center ka, may community kitchen, may sapat na support staff. Pero dito, on their own, ‘yung mga pasahero mismo, ‘yung pamilya nila, mapapakain nila ‘yung sarili nila na wala nang masyadong assistance ng government agencies,” the DSWD chief explained.

Secretary Gatchalian affirmed that every product inside RTEF boxes has undergone a meticulous selection process with the DSWD’s collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) – Food and Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI).

“Lahat ‘to every single one, dumaan dito sa amin, tinikman natin sa office ko, at sinigurado natin na masarap. Hindi lang masustansya, pero masarap,” the DSWD chief stressed.

PPA General Manager Jay Santiago said he is impressed with the products inside the RTEF boxes, explaining it is reflective of a government that strives to go above and beyond to address the public’s needs.

“It was a pleasant surprise no’ng nakita ko, na-realize ko premium ‘yung brands na nilagay niyo rito. Sa totoo lang binibili ko ito eh, kilala ko itong brand na to. So, I am happy na hindi [mararamdaman] ng tao na parang tinipid. Ito talaga, alam natin na premium yung brands,” General Manager Santiago pointed out.

Secretary Gatchalian alongside PPA General Manager Santiago also led a product sampling at the terminal right after the agreement signing.

Juliet Sontosidad, one of the passengers who tasted the samples, said the RTEF is not only filling but likewise brings satisfaction to her taste buds.

“Hindi siya masasayang, mauubos mo talaga siya, masarap po. Pwede po siya kahit hindi nainit eh, masarap na po talaga po siya,” Juliet said, referring to the champorado and canned paella as her top picks.

An RTEF box contains five cans of tuna paella, one can of chicken pastil, one can of giniling, two packs of arroz caldo, three packs of champorado, two protein biscuits, and one complementary food for infants.

It can feed up to a family of five for a whole day. (LSJ)

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During the “Kaagapay Partnership Encounter” on Friday (June 27), the DSWD received praises from partners for not only simplifying and digitalizing the process of giving donations, but also making it more accessible for social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs) to fund their charitable causes through the Kaagapay Donations Portal (KDP).

The KDP is an online platform that streamlines the donation process, making it easier and more accessible for individuals and organizations to contribute in disaster relief operations and social welfare programs.

This initiative is anchored on President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s socioeconomic agenda on digitalization of government processes and operations.

Asst. Secretary Marie Rafael of the DSWD’s Partnership Building and Resource Mobilization Office (PBRMO) highlighted that the agency is promoting the donations portal to share its ownership with SWDAs in order to break the political barriers affecting the process of aid giving.

“The Department launched early this year the Kaagapay Donations Portal and we would like to continue to expand its reach to accommodate more registered and licensed SWDAs and non-government organizations to help them connect to donors that will assist them in their noble causes,” Asst. Secretary Rafael emphasized.

One of the DSWD’s foreign partners from Singapore, National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) Chief Executive Officer Tony Soh commended the Department’s efforts in improving the KDP.

“Your commitment to building this platform as a trusted and inclusive space for disaster response and social welfare is not only timely, it is critically important. You are building key infrastructure which will directly contribute to uplifting lives and strengthening communities,” CEO Soh said.

Ayala Foundation President Tony Lambino, on the other hand, called the KDP as a platform that “does more than enable giving.”

“It is strengthening systems in this ecosystem. It builds transparency and accountability, and allows all of us swiftly and effectively in times of need,” the Ayala Foundation president said in his message.

The Partnership Encounter was attended by representatives from SWDAs, DSWD-managed centers and residential care facilities (CRCFs), non-government organizations (NGOs), civil society organizations (CSOs), international institutions, and private sector partners participating in the KDP. (AKDL)

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This was highlighted by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian in a no-holds-barred interview last June 19 over the program ‘Long Take’ with Ces Drilon, where he explained the rationale behind the agency’s Pag-abot Program for families and individuals in street situations or FISS.

Secretary Gatchalian told anchor Ces Drilon that the program started in 2023 based on the directive of President R. Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. that no Filipino families must be left behind by the government, especially the FISS.

From 2023 to date, social workers of the Pag-abot Program has reached out to at least 5,000 out of the 10,000 FISS monitored in the National Capital Region.

“Pag-abot since 2023, when I joined the Department, ang instruction ng Presidente, walang Pilipino dapat nakatira sa lansangan,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

According to the DSWD chief, the Department employs more than 100 social workers who go around Metro Manila on a 24/7 schedule to reach out to FISS, whether on the streets, under the skyways, on flyovers or even under bridges.

As part of the process, the social workers talk to the FISS and invite them to avail of the Pag-abot program. Those willing to avail of the interventions of the Pag-abot Program will be taken to the processing center in Pasay City for a comprehensive assessment of needs.

Secretary Gatchalian also addressed the recent hype about Rose, the “imburnal girl”, and responded to the question on whether the Department felt duped or “nabudol” in the aftermath of the viral ‘memes’ and social media posts about the issue.

“Hindi kami nabudol because lahat to dumadaan sa assessment ng social worker. Hindi naman, yung Php80,000, hindi nanggaling yun sa hangin. Since 2023, naka-publish yung mga memo circular namin kung ano yung range ng tulong na puwede ibigay,” the DSWD chief pointed out.

The information about the substance abuse of Rose is also known to the Department through the assessment and case management portfolio done by the social worker. Due to the confidentiality of the information and the goal of the Department to bring dignity back to every FISS beneficiary, this was not disclosed to the public.

“Alam namin that mayroon siyang substance abuse habits, alam yan ng social worker. And part of the conditionality, kasi itong Php80,000 may conditionality, dapat magkaroon ng active steps towards rehabilitating,” Secretary Gatchalian explained.

The Department also conducts validation visits and ensures that the assistance provided is in tranches, and spent as intended, according to the DSWD chief.

“The DSWD is not just in line of giving you cash. This is a holistic program to give you back hope, self-worth, self-respect, dignity,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief noted that the focus of public scrutiny was on Rose, but she is just one among the thousands reached out and assisted by Pag-abot social workers.

On a positive note, Secretary Gatchalian narrated a success story of a Pag-abot Program beneficiary who was assisted in returning to Zamboanga and who now runs a successful ‘Pares’ business in his hometown.

The DSWD chief also visits other Pag-abot beneficiaries as part of the Secretary’s role to listen to the needs of the FISS.

“Hindi lang napi-feature but you can fact check. Merong social media page ang Pag-abot ng DSWD, pinuntahan ko rin yung mga Aeta na binigyan namin ng kalabaw. Kasi, I wanted to understand, ba’t kalabaw ba ang hihingin niyo…and to develop things and to develop programs, you have to learn to listen,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief expressed appreciation to all recommendations, suggestions, and even criticisms which can form part of program enhancements and which gave the Department the platform to share the gains of Pag-abot. (GDVF)

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