Undersecretary Edu Punay of the DSWD’s Innovations, Programs, and Development Group (IPDG), who also serves as the National Program Manager of the WGP, underscored the importance of building on the gains from the pilot implementation.

“The approval of REFUEL enables us to expand and improve the program with stronger implementation systems, enhanced digital infrastructure, and broader partnerships to ensure timely delivery of food assistance,” Undersecretary Punay said on Friday (April 25).

The REFUEL Project, which secured the final approval of the NEDA Board on Wednesday (April 23), is designed to support the national scale-up of the WGP, the government’s flagship food assistance program institutionalized under Executive Order No. 44, series of 2023.

The project aims to reach a total of 750,000 food-poor households by 2027, identified through the Listahanan 3 database and other government targeting systems.

“The program doesn’t just address hunger—it builds long-term resilience. Through complementary activities like social behavior change sessions and livelihood skills training, the WGP helps empower poor households to move toward self-sufficiency,” Undersecretary Punay pointed out.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian personally presented the REFUEL project during the NEDA Board meeting chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., emphasizing the government’s commitment to a hunger-free Philippines.

“Joined the April 23 NEDA Board meeting where the funding source for DSWD’s anti-hunger initiative, the Walang Gutom Program, was tackled and approved,” Secretary Gatchalian posted on his official Facebook account.

During the pilot phase, the WGP reached 300,000 households in priority provinces. This pilot was implemented with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), through the United Nations World Food Programme (UN-WFP). The pilot concluded in June 2024 and provided the foundation for the nationwide rollout.

The REFUEL Project, with a total project cost of Php74 billion, is supported by the ADB and co-financed by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD) and the OPEC Fund for International Development.

Under the REFUEL Project, beneficiaries will receive electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards loaded with Pho3,000 monthly food credits, redeemable at accredited local retailers for nutritious food items.

Participation in monthly nutrition education and productivity enhancement sessions will be part of the program conditions.

The DSWD will continue to work closely with national and local stakeholders to ensure the structured implementation of the program and deliver on the commitment to reduce hunger and malnutrition across the country. (LSJ)

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reiterated the necessity of providing accurate information in securing clearance for minors traveling abroad (MTA) to avoid delays in their foreign travel.

Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Statutory Programs under Operations Group said the agency follows a stringent process in its issuance of the travel clearance certificate to safeguard Filipino children from child trafficking and exploitation, especially those who are participating in short study grants and out-of-the-country competitions.

Asst. Secretary Colico responded to a question of a reporter during the agency’s Thursday Media Forum on April 24 regarding the case of teenage chess champion Ruelle Canino on the delay in the issuance of her travel clearance permit.

“Supposed to be po kasi ang companion na ilalagay nya sa kanyang application is yung kanyang coach pero ang nailagay nya kasi ay yung kanyang older na kapatid. So, ayun po, may hindi po tama sa impormasyon sa kanyang application kaya hindi po naka-proceed yung kanyang application pero natulungan naman po natin sila kasi nakahabol naman po sya, na-reschedule po yung kanyang flight at nakaalis na sya kahapon,” Asst. Secretary Colico told reporters at the Media Forum.

A travel clearance is issued by the DSWD for minors or individuals below 18 years old traveling outside the Philippines who are not accompanied by any of the parents or persons having parental responsibility or legal custody over the child.

The issuance of travel clearance for minors is also specified under the Special Protection of Children Against Abuse, Exploitation and Discrimination Act and the Philippine Passport Act of 1996.

Earlier this year, the DSWD streamlined the process of securing travel clearance through the MTA online system so that parents or guardians no longer need to physically visit the DSWD regional o

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Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the DSWD’s Protective Programs said requesting a travel permit for minors going out of the country 30 days before their departure is ideal to avoid any delay or inconvenience.

“Amin pong pinapaalam sa publiko na ngayon po ay peak season at marami pong nag-aaply sa ngayon kaya kailangan po namin ng mas maagang aplikasyon siguro mga 30 days before their travel dapat ay nag-apply na po sila sa aming platform para masiguro rin po na magkaroon po ng smoother process,” Asst. Secretary Ada Colico said in an interview aired over Bombo Radyo on Thursday (April 24).

As part of the government’s preventive measures against child-trafficking, a travel clearance is issued by the DSWD to minors or individuals below 18 years old traveling outside the Philippines who are unaccompanied by any of the biological parents or persons having parental responsibility or legal custody over the child.

The DSWD also issues certificates of exemption for special cases such as children traveling with an unmarried parent and orphaned children who will travel with their legal guardians.

Asst. Secretary Colico told Bombo Radyo that applying for these documents have been simplified since the launch of the MTA online portal last February 18. Through this system, applicants are allowed to lodge their application anytime and anywhere, as long as they have their internet or gadgets with them.

The DSWD official, however, noted that the client’s timely application is critical, as the clients’ cooperation remains key to a smooth transaction.

“Kapag po kasi wala silang clearance, mao-offload po sila ng ating Bureau of Immigration (BI) kasi hinahanap po ito as a requirement sa ating pag-travel abroad. Para maiwasan na po yung ating off-loading kailangan po talaga nilang mag-secure ng clearance prior their travel,” Asst. Secretary Colico pointed out.

The online MTA system is among the DSWD’s latest digitalization program which was a brainchild of Secretary Rex Gatchalian in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr’s vision of digitalizing 90 percent of government agencies for faster delivery of services to the public.

Complete information on the application process and documentary requirements can be found in the DSWD Memorandum Circular 22, series of 2024 (https://www.dswd.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/MC_2024-022.pdf)

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“Ngayon po pati asawa ng OFW (Overseas Filipino Worker) pwede nang i-consider na solo parent.”

This was the explanation made by Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Statutory Programs under Operations Group during her presentation on the salient provisions of Republic Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act at the agency’s Thursday Media Forum on April 24.

Asst. Secretary Colico said spouses of Filipinos working abroad for one year and above and belonging to the low/semi-skilled worker category will be regarded as solo parents who are entitled to benefits and privileges accorded by the law.

“Dapat po ang duration is continuous na one year and above. Kahit po ikaw ay may sustento pero ikaw ay solely na nag-aalaga sa iyong anak, pwede na pong ma-considered as solo parent yun,” Asst. Secretary Colico told reporters at the Media Forum.

Under the law, a solo parent can be categorized as a parent that provides sole parental care and support to a child or children due to abandonment; birth as a consequence of rape even without final conviction; death of a spouse; detention of spouse or partner with a minimum of 3 months conviction; legal separation or nullity or annulled marriage; and, whose spouse has physical or mental disability.

Asst. Secretary Colico also highlighted that the law expanded the definition of solo parents to make it more inclusive to the current situation of parents and legal guardians who are providing sole parental care and support to a child or children.

Aside from a spouse of OFWs, those who are legal guardians, adoptive or foster parent, and relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity of the parent or legal guardian may apply as a solo parent as long as they solely assumed the provision of parental care and support to a child or children.

A pregnant woman who provides sole parental care and support to her unborn child or children may also apply as a solo parent.

In the Media Forum, the DSWD official also discussed the benefits and privileges of solo parents that are mandated by R.A. 11861.

The salient features of the law include a monthly cash subsidy of Php1,000 from the solo parent’s respective local government units (LGUs) for those earning minimum wage or below; automatic coverage of the National Health Insurance Program (NHIP), administered by the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth); and, prioritization in housing allocation and workforce.

The expanded act also mandates a 10 percent discount and exemption from value-added tax (VAT) for solo parents earning less than Php250,000 annually on the purchase of their child’s milk, food, micronutrient supplements, sanitary diapers, prescribed medicines, vaccines, and other medical supplies from birth until the child turns six years old.

Solo parents and their children will also have access to scholarships and other educational programs from the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Asst. Secretary Colico also reminded solo parents that they must be recognized by their local government units (LGUs) as solo parents before they can avail of the benefits and privileges under RA 11861.

“Para ma-consider as a solo parent, dapat po recognized ka rin ng government, through the local government units. Hindi po ang DSWD ang nag-iissue [ng solo parent ID]. It is the local government units, through their city social welfare and development offices or their municipal social welfare and development offices,” Asst. Secretary Colico explained.

The Statutory Programs head also pointed out that the solo parent ID is renewable every year.

“Ang kaibahan po kasi sa solo parent, nire-renew kasi sya [ID] annually. Hindi katulad ng persons with disability na life time or sa senior citizens. Sa solo parents po renewable sya every year,” Asst. Secretary Colico said.

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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Ada Colico of the Statutory Programs under Operations Group discusses the benefits and privileges for solo parents during the agency’s Thursday Media Forum on April 24 at the Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.

Asst. Secretary Colico also presented the salient provisions of Republic Act No. 11861 or the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act and answered questions from reporters.

The DSWD Thursday Media Forum, which is held weekly at the New Press Center, is hosted by Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Communications Raymond Robert Burgos and Director Dianne Joie Ruiz of the Digital Media Service (DMS). It is live streamed over the DSWD Facebook page. (AKDL)

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Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the agency supports the Department of Education’s (DepEd) anti-bullying campaign by conducting capacity-building and learning activities, especially for the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

“Bullying is one of the main causes of learning disruption among children and teens. To help address this concern, the DSWD’s 4Ps conducts family development sessions (FDS) to inform parents on the significance of having a nurturing family and school environment for children to prevent bullying,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also the DSWD spokesperson, said.

The DSWD spokesperson emphasized that FDS sessions help reinforce the rearing capacity of 4Ps parents to teach them to become more observant to the emotional well-being of their children and to cultivate open communication with their children.

Aside from FDS sessions, Asst. Secretary Dumlao said DSWD Field Offices are also conducting advocacy activities in public schools to raise the awareness of teachers and students on the different forms of bullying and prevention mechanisms.

“One of the recent anti-bullying activities of the agency was held in Barangay Nato, Sagñay in Camarines Sur last April 8. The 4Ps staff of DSWD Field Office 5-Bicol Region held a discussion with high school students and teachers to help them learn their roles to prevent bullying. They also encouraged them to speak up against bullies and promote compassion and respect for each other,” the DSWD spokesperson pointed out.

In a Facebook post on the activity, the Bicol Field Office said: “Pinaalalahanan din ang mga guro at kawani ng paaralan na may pananagutan sila sa pagtiyak na ligtas at inklusibo ang kapaligiran ng mga mag-aaral. Binigyang halaga ang papel ng mga bystanders o mga nakasaksi sa bullying na sa halip na manahimik, ay dapat makialam sa positibong paraan upang mapigilan ang karahasan at diskriminasyon.”

Asst. Secretary Dumlao recalled that in November 2024, during a national congress for 4Ps children-beneficiaries, one of the significant policy recommendations approved was the amendment to the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013.

“Through the help of the 4Ps children, the mandatory conduct of anti-bullying orientations in public schools and private schools on the first day of classes was included in the new house bill,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.

Launched in 2008 and institutionalized by Republic Act (RA) 11310 in 2019, the 4Ps is the national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program that provides conditional cash transfer to poor households for a maximum period of seven years to improve their children’s health, nutrition, and education. (AKDL)

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The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now preparing the nationwide implementation of the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP) for children in Child Development Centers (CDCs) and Supervised Neighborhood Play (SNP) in time for the June school opening.

More than 1.5 million children in CDCs and SNPs will be provided with hot meals and milk for a period of 120 days from the budget of over Php5.18 billion.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said the SFP provides nutritious hot meals and milk to children 2 to 5 years old in local government unit (LGU)-managed CDCs and SNP, in line with the Department’s support to the Zero Hunger objective of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.

“Nais nating pagbutihin at panatilihin ang nutrisyon ng mga batang Filipino. Yearly, we provide hot meals to the target children beneficiaries to help improve their nutritional status. Isinusulong din natin ang paggamit ng lokal at katutubong pagkain sa nasabing hot meals upang matugunan ang at least 1/3 ng dietary intake ng mga bata,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said on Wednesday (April 23).

In implementing the program, the children’s weight and height are measured at the start and after the completion of the feeding program and consistently monitored throughout the feeding sessions.

The parents of the children are also involved in the preparation of the meals using affordable, nutritious, and indigenous ingredients.

The program is implemented yearly after it was institutionalized in 2018 by Republic Act No.11037, also known as the “Masustansiyang Pagkain Para sa Batang Pilipino Act.”

In 2024, the SFP served a total of 1,871,165 children nationw

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‘The preference of 4Ps grantees will still be the primary consideration in releasing their cash grants,” Division Chief (DC) Marie Grace Ponce of the 4Ps Social Marketing Division (SMD) said during the April 23 episode of the DSWD’s online program “4Ps Fastbreak.”

“Hindi po totally magshi-shift. Yung desisyon pa rin po ay nasa beneficiaries natin dahil ang gusto po natin ay matanggap ng mga beneficiaries yung kanilang cash grants sa pinakamabilis, pinaka-episyenteng pamamaraan, at yung lesser na yung expenses na gagamitin nila,” DC Ponce said.

DC Ponce explained that the ongoing efforts of the 4Ps to promote digital financial literacy is one of the agency’s initiatives to comply with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to promote financial inclusivity.

“Bagamat mayroong cash cards, mayroon din naman siyang online versions so yung ngayon, ang ginagawa natin is tinuturuan natin yung ating mga beneficiaries na ma-maximize yung technology o yung tinatawag nating digital platforms para ma-maximize nila yung mga ino-offer na mga services online,” DC Ponce pointed out.

The SMD chief further explained that digital platforms will be beneficial to 4Ps members since they can use e-wallets to pay their bills online, send and receive money digitally, and prioritize savings.

The digital financial literacy initiative is aligned with Republic Act 11310 or the “Act Institutionalizing the 4Ps”, outlining the importance of providing beneficiaries with capability-building activities to improve their well-being through the conduct of family development sessions (FDS).

Launched in 2008 and institutionalized in 2019, the 4Ps program provides cash grants to more than 4 million households whose children are given subsidies to finish elementary and senior high school and supported with health and nutrition grants.

The ‘4Ps Fastbreak’ is hosted by Information Officer Venus Balito of the Strategic Communication Group’s Digital Media Service (DMS) and is aired every Wednesday, 11 am, using the DSWD’s Facebook platform. (AKDL)

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“The DSWD truly appreciates this gift of love. I know it’s not easy to come up with this kind of donation in light of budget cuts left and right, so I really want to focus on that and I believe that despite all these challenges, despite the new paradigm in global financing for development work, the DSWD and the WFP will keep their relationship strong,” Secretary Gatchalian said in his message.

The new mobile kitchen unit is the result of the continued collaboration between the DSWD and the WFP, which began in the last quarter of 2023.

The unit was developed through extensive consultation and co-creation processes to enhance its design and operational capacity, ensuring that it is more responsive to the needs of Filipino communities affected by disasters.

“I see this partnership between the WFP and the DSWD going from strength to strength,” WFP Country Director Regis Chapman emphasized in his message during the ceremony.

In addition to the 15 mobile kitchen units previously acquired by the Department, the newly donated unit will be used in delivering hot and nutritious meals to families affected by disasters and crises, particularly in regions where access to cooking facilities is severely limited.

This donation underscores the strong and collaborative partnership between the DSWD and the WFP, united by a common goal to achieve zero hunger and strengthen the adaptive and shock-responsive social protection for vulnerable communities in the Philippines.

With Bicol Region being one of the most disaster-prone areas in the country, frequently impacted by typhoons, volcanic eruptions, and other calamities, the newly donated mobile kitchen will be stationed at the DSWD’s Field Office-5.

This deployment will significantly bolster the FO-5’s capacity to respond to the immediate needs of families and individuals affected by disasters, reinforcing the region’s resilience in times of crisis.

Also present in the ceremony were Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe and Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG); Assistant Bureau Director Michael Cristopher Mathay of the Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB); FO-5’s Disaster Response and Management Division Chief Claudio Villareal Jr.; and WFP Programme Policy Officer for Emergency Preparedness and Response Harold Javier.

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