Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian talked about the ongoing initiatives and updates on the agency’s programs and services to mitigate stunting and hunger, upskilling social workers and paraprofessionals, and reaching out families and individuals in street situations (FISS), among others during the Kapihan sa Manila Prince online show.
“Tama nga po kayo na hindi naman DSWD lang ang may responsibilidad sa paglaban sa kahirapan. Sabi nga ng ating pangulo, ang instruction nya, whole-of-government-approach. Kung hindi nga whole-of-government, whole-of-society approach kasama ang private sector… Pero pag pag-uusapan ang DSWD, gusto ko i-highlight yung instruction ng ating Pangulo, Ferdinand R Marcos Jr sa DSWD, i-improve yung mga existing natin mga programa,” Secretary Gatchalian said during the online show on Monday (August 12) hosted by former Senator Joey Lina and former Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma.
Additional 4Ps grants
Secretary Gatchalian said the agency will continue improving the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) especially that the program has been effective in its goal of breaking intergenerational cycle of poverty through the exit of households that are now self-sufficient.
“Pero syempre, hindi tayo natutuwa na kung ano lang yun nandyan. Gusto ng ating Pangulo, i-improve yung mga hakbang, para ma-improve natin yung 4Ps program,” the DSWD chief pointed out.
One of the enhancements of the 4Ps, according to the DSWD chief, is the “First 1000-day grant” which will provide supplementary cash grants amounting to approximately Php350 per month for female beneficiaries who are pregnant and nursing mothers to further improve the health and nutrition of their children during the critical first 1,000 days.
“Kung 650,000 (ang pregnant and lactating women) at around Php350, annually that’s around Php 3billion or Php 2.6 to Php2.7 billion. First time na may bagong grant na i-introduce sa ating 4Ps. At natutuwa kami na ito ay a step toward the right direction. Ang sinabi ng Asian Development Bank, sa experience nila sa conditional cash transfer, pag nainintroduce natin ito, isa tayo sa mga bansa na unang gumawa nito, napaka agresibong pamumuhunan sa Pilipino at sa taong bayan,” Secretary Gatchalian explained.
The DSWD is also reengineering its system to automate and streamline the process of cash grants payouts of 4Ps beneficiaries, according to Secretary Gatchalian.
“Imagine nyo, para kumuha sila ng grants nila at matustusan ‘yung gastusin ng kanilang mga anak sa edukasyon at sa kalusugan, luluwas sila as much as six hours. Sometimes, sasakay ng barko, maglalakad. By the time makapunta sila sa city center, ang laki na ng nabawas sa cost of transport nila,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Investing in social workers and paraprofessionals
The DSWD Academy is one of the priority programs of the agency that offers learning opportunities for the development of the competencies of its partner stakeholders that are needed in the delivery of social welfare and development, as well as social protection programs and services.
“Importante sa amin na laging up to speed sila pagdating sa mga makabagong interventions. So, patuloy ang ating pamumuhunan sa tao ng DSWD. Kasama dyan, next year, magbubukas na yung DSWD Academy namin kung saan magkakaroon ng continuing learning para sa ating mga sariling social workers,” Secretary Gatchalian said answering the question how the agency strengthens its core, the social workers.
The DSWD Academy is envisioned as the center of excellence in Asia and Indo-Pacific regions that will provide a sustained high-level of social welfare and development practice for social workers, social welfare assistants, community development practitioners, and other paraprofessionals.
“Marami sa ating mahihirap na mga local government units, yung mga nasa 4th, 5th and 6th class municipalities and hindi maka-afford ng sarili nilang social worker. So you can imagine yung social case intake nila normally walang nakakapirma at ang gumaganap ng trabaho ng social worker yung tawag namin dun social work assistants, social welfare assistants. Ito yung mga clerk ng city halls na naatasan pangalagaan yung kapakanan ng kanilang mga kababayan. We want to empower them,” the DSWD secretary pointed out.
Families and individuals in street situations (FISS)
The DSWD chief ensured that the families and individuals in street situations (FISS) reached out under the agency’s Oplan Pag-Abot Program are provided with necessary interventions.
“Pinupuntahan yan, kinukumbinsi na tumira sa aming temporary shelters at doon namin ginagawa ang necessary na intervention. Ang mga intervention na kasama ay Balik Probinsya Program na may kasamang livelihood grants at yung mga pag-enroll sa iba’t-ibang programa katulad ng 4Ps. Kami na ang nag-enroll sa kanila kung kailangan,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
Secretary Gatchalian also called on the public and the media to report cases of FISS to the DSWD.
“Ini-encourage namin ang mga mamamayan mag-report kung may nakikita silang mga pamilyang nakatira sa lansangan para kami na ang pupunta at mag-reach out,” the DSWD secretary said.
