As one of the participating agencies in the government services caravan, “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat,” the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), led by Secretary Rex Gatchalian, held simultaneous payout of financial assistance in almost 300 districts across the country on Friday (September 13).
The DSWD chief, who personally presided over the Bataan leg of the caravan in Balanga City, said the agency has allotted over Php1.4 billion in aid to low income, minimum wage workers across the country.
“Kami sa DSWD, naatasan naman tayo ng magbigay ng ating departamento ng ayuda o tulong pinansiyal para sa mga kapos o maliit yung kinikita…sumatutal, halos Php1.4 billion na financial assistance ang ibibigay sa mga mamamayan natin sa buong bansa.” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Close to 300,000 beneficiaries from the 300 districts in the country were provided with financial assistance under the agency’s Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDDS).
The aid distribution was among the government services provided in the Handog ng Pangulo caravan that aimed to address the needs of low-income workers, according to Secretary Gatchalian.
“Alam naman natin na kahit na nagtatrabaho tayo, minsan kulang pa rin ang kinikita at medyo mataas ang mga gastusin. Kaya lahat ng nasa sektor na ito, makakatanggap ng ayuda mula sa ating Departmento,” the DSWD chief told the beneficiaries at the Bataan People’s Center.
In the 2nd District of Bataan, a total of 1,892 AKAP beneficiaries received Php5,000 each during the payout.
Most of them belonged to the persons with disabilities sector, solo parent households, and minimum wage earners.
Leonora Tapauco Tapalla, who was among the solo parent-recipients, cited the importance of government aid.
“Tama po talaga na kahit may kaunting kita kaming mga kumakayod, kailangan rin talaga namin ng tulong ng gobyerno dahil sa hirap na rin ng buhay,” Leonora said.
“Sa mga panahon na gipit na gipit po dahil sa mga gastusin, lalo na rin sa akin na solo parent, malaking tulong po ang mga ayuda para sa araw-araw na bayarin at pantustos na rin sa maliit na sari-sari store namin,” Leonora added.
Secretary Gatchalian emphasized that the caravan of various services and assistance from the different national government agencies (NGAs), which coincided with the 67th birthday of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., is not just a one day commitment.
Under the directive of President Marcos, the DSWD will continue to extend services with other NGAs to those in need, particularly the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors, according to the DSWD chief.
“May sakuna o walang sakuna, birthday man ng pangulo o hindi niya birthday, lagi niyong maaasahan ang inyong pamahalaan. Ang buong sandataaan ng pamahalaan ay lalapit at lalapit sa taumbayan para ibigay ang serbisyo at benepisyo para sa inyong lahat,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
