In cooperation with the office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, a cash assistance and rice Distribution (CARD) program took place on Saturday (11 November 2023) in Barangay 129, Caloocan City.

Caloocan City’s 2nd District Representative Mitch Cajayon-Uy said around 2,500 beneficiaries each received P2,000 cash assistance from DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

(Benjie Cuaresma/ai/mnm)

By Junex Doronio

DESPITE THE CONSTITUTIONAL BAN ON POLITICAL DYNASTIES, another political dynasty is shaping up if and when Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian runs for senator in 2025 and wins as the latest survey might encourage him to do so.

According to a survey by the RP-Mission and Development Foundation Inc. (RPMD), Gatchalian earned a high public approval rating of 84% along with a trust rating of 88%.

If Rex runs for senator in 2025 and wins, he will then be joining his brother Win Gatchalian and join in the league of other senator siblings like Sens. Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano, Jinggoy Estrada and JV Ejercito, and mother-and-son Cynthia and Mark Villar.

“Thank you for recognizing Team DSWD’s contributions and efforts to improve and innovate the delivery of social protection services and programs to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable Filipinos,” Gatchalian said in his Facebook post.

This possibility of Rex Gatchalian running for senator in 2025 loomed following a recent survey that showed that the social welfare chief is the second top-performing Cabinet member of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Gatchalian was second to Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos who is also believed to be eyeing a Senate seat.

With this development, Gatchalian expressed gratitude for the team DSWD’s public approval and trust, citing efforts to deliver services to the poor and marginalized.

(ai/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has warned the public not to be deceived by the promises of the politicians that they will be included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

The agency said that the 4Ps program cannot be used for political gains and similar activities especially since the Barangay and Sangguiang Kabataan elections are just around the corner.

The warning was made ahead of the BSK poll exercise, which is slated on Monday, October 30, 2023, and because according to reports, some political candidates are making false campaign promises about the voters’ inclusion in the 4Ps program of the DSWD.

“Sa atin pong mga kababayan, kahit sino pong mangako sa inyo na kayo’y mapapasama sa 4Ps program, malamang hindi ho magkatotoo ‘yan,” DSWD Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said.

“DSWD data lang po ang tatanungin. DSWD personnel din lang po ang makakapag-assess po sa inyo – hindi po kahit sinong kandidato,” he added.

4Ps is a human development measure of the national government that provides conditional cash grants to the poorest of the poor, to improve the health, nutrition, and education of members’ children aged 0-18.

(ai/mnm)