Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian reiterated on Monday (June 2) that the Php80,000 in financial aid given to Rose, the woman who surfaced from a Makati sewer, is not a reward but a form of livelihood assistance based on existing guidelines and assessment conducted by agency social workers.

“Una, hindi siya pabuya. Gusto kong linawin na ito ay parte ng programa ng pag-reintegrate sa komunidad. Kung ibalik mo lang ang mga tao sa kanilang komunidad, uulit at uulit lang ito. Kailangan matulungan natin silang magkaroon ng bagong pag-asa at makapagsimula ng bagong buhay sa pamamagitan ng economic grant,” Secretary Gatchalian said in an interview over Unang Hirit hosted by Arnold Clavio.

Secretary Gatchalian said the financial assistance was determined not arbitrarily, but by the assigned social worker who conducted a case intake and assessment on Rose’s situation.

“Yung halaga na yan, ang nagtakda niyan, hindi ako, hindi kahit sino sa departamento, kundi yung handling social worker ni Rose. Sa kanyang recommendation, sa kanyang intake, ay nakita niya na ito ang tamang intervention para makapagsimula muli si Rose,” the DSWD chief pointed out.

Secretary Gatchalian emphasized that all amounts disbursed under the DSWD’s various programs follow established guidelines—with predefined minimum and maximum limits—and must go through a rigorous evaluation process.

“Gusto ko rin i-point out na may guidelines ang DSWD sa bawat programa. Lahat ng programa natin nakatakda kung ano ang minimum amount, ano ang maximum amount. Pero lahat yan, katulad sa iba’t iba pa naming programa, dadaan muna sa masusing pag-aaral ng mga social worker natin,” the DSWD chief explained.

In the same interview, Secretary Gatchalian extended an apology to social workers or anyone who may have felt offended by the use of the symbolic title “honorary social worker” to describe Rose’s willingness to help the DSWD in reaching out to her fellow street dwellers in Makati City.

“Kung sakaling may na-offend ang terminong ito sa hanay ng ating social worker, ako na mismo ang humihingi ng paumanhin. Hindi yun ang intensyon ng mga social worker namin o ng Departamento o myself in giving her that symbolic title. Pero gusto ko kayong i-assure ulit na alam ko na wala sa kapangyarihan ng DSWD mag-confer ng kahit na anong degree dahil hindi naman wala yan sa kapangyarihan namin,” Secretary Gatchalian said.

As part of the DSWD’s Oplan Pag-abot, the agency is actively reaching out to families and individuals in street situations (FISS), as directed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. since 2023, to protect them from the hazards of living in the streets and reintegrate them to their communities.

“Sabi nga ng Pangulo sa akin nang na-appoint ako sa Departamento, kailangan walang pamilyang Pilipino na nakatira sa lansangan. Kaya ‘yan ang ginagawa ng Oplan Pag-abot namin since 2023 kung saan mahigit sa limang libong pamilya na ang nailikas natin mula sa panganib ng pagtira sa kalsada at dinala natin sa mga shelter natin or naiuwi natin sa kanilang mga probinsya, or katulad ni Rose, naibalik natin sa kanyang komunidad na may kaakibat na tulong pinansyal para makapagsimula muli,” Secretary Gatchalian said. (YADP)