By Junex Doronio
MANILA — To ensure that all families and individuals severely affected by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) ‘Kristine’ receive assistance, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian joined President Ferdinand R. “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. in distributing the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolk, and Their Families (PAFFF) in the Bicol Region on Wednesday, November 6, 2024.
“Narito po akong muli upang personal na maghatid ng mga karagdagang tulong para sa mga kababayan natin na lubhang naapektuhan ng Bagyong Kristine dito sa Camarines Sur. Umaasa po ako na sa tulong at suportang iniaabot namin sa inyo ngayon, kayo ay magkakaroon ng sapat na kakayahan upang makabangon muli,” President Marcos said in his message during the aid distribution at the Fuerte CamSur Sports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur.
In his message, Gatchalian assured Bicolanos that DSWD would continue to provide assistance to affected families, in addition to the 500,000 boxes of family food packs (FFPs) already distributed to local government units (LGUs) in the region, as instructed by President Marcos.
“Ngayong araw na ito, nandito po kami kasama ang iba pang departamento, para dalhin naman ang financial assistance,” he said.
The DSWD chief assisted President Marcos in the ceremonial distribution of Php10,000 each to select beneficiaries. Approximately 5,000 farmers, fisherfolk, and other families affected by ‘Kristine’ are expected to receive assistance during the aid distribution.
“Alam po natin na pagkatapos ng sakuna, marami ang kailangang ayusin at kumpunihin. Kaya narito po kami upang agarang matugunan ang inyong mga pangangailangan,” Gatchalian emphasized.
Camarines Sur Governor Vincenzo Renato Luigi Villafuerte expressed his gratitude to President Marcos and Secretary Gatchalian for the immediate assistance provided to his constituents.
“Aside from the 231 barangays that were totally submerged [and received assistance], the 693 barangays that were partially submerged were also given assistance, 100 percent. Kaya maraming salamat po. Secretary Rex, salamat din po sa tulong, hindi n’yo po kami pinabayaan, at sinigurado n’yo po na hindi kami mauubusan,” Villafuerte said.
After the cash aid distribution in Camarines Sur, the Presidential team headed to Legazpi City to provide assistance to 5,000 farmers and fisherfolk in Albay province.
“Mula po sa Tanggapan ng Pangulo, katuwang ang DSWD, maglalaan din po tayo ng Php50 million upang matugunan ang pangangailangan ng mga naapektuhan sa tatlong lungsod at labinglimang bayan ng Albay,” President Marcos said during the distribution at the Ibalong Centrum for Recreation in Legazpi City.
Cabinet officials present during the aid distribution included Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio “Anton” Lagdameo Jr., Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., and Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla.
Accompanying Secretary Gatchalian were DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez and Field Office 5-Bicol Regional Director Norman Laurio.
The Presidential team also conducted a PAFFF payout in the municipalities of Talisay and Laurel in Batangas on November 4.
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By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured Filipinos on Thursday, October 24, 2024, that the agency will continue providing relief assistance to ensure that no one goes hungry amid the devastating impact of Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine.
“Sa ngalan ng DSWD, nais naming i-assure ang ating mga kakabayan na naapektuhan ng Bagyong Kristine na nakahanda ang aming Departamento na mag-supply ng mga family food packs (FFPs) nationwide sa ating mga local government units (LGUs) na siya namang magdi-distribute sa ating mga residente. Makakaasa po kayo tuluy-tuloy din po yan dahil yan ang instruction ng ating mahal na pangulo, na walang biktima ng kalamidad na ito ang magugutom,” Secretary Gatchalian told reporters during a press briefing organized by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) on the government’s response to STS Kristine, held at Malacañang.
The DSWD chief mentioned that around 100,000 boxes of FFPs are being transported to the Bicol Region as he spoke at the briefing.
He added that these supplies are in addition to approximately 120,000 FFPs available in the region for LGUs to request and withdraw for their relief operations.
“Tuloy tuloy ang withdrawals ng mga local government units, pero hindi tayo tumitigil diyan. Habang nagwi-withdraw sila, nagpapadala na tayo ng karagdagang another 100 thousand food packs sa Bicol. Enroute na yon ngayon. So hindi pa man nauubos ang family food packs sa region, dinadagdagan na ho natin siya,” the DSWD chief explained.
Gatchalian also noted that while the immediate priority is to provide relief assistance to severely affected communities, the Department is prepared to disburse financial aid to support their other needs and early recovery in the coming days.
“Kung tatanungin niyo kung may available funds, again, let me categorically say that the DSWD has available funds ready to mobilize financial assistance in the coming days. Hindi naman yan nauubos, that’s on top of our regular assistance funds at meron din kami yung sa disaster funds namin,” he pointed out.
“Pag bumaba na po ang tubig baha, ang mga cash relief at cash assistance ay magsisimula na sa mabilis na panahon,” the DSWD chief added.
The agency is also monitoring another low-pressure area outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) that may soon develop into a typhoon, according to Gatchalian.
“In fact, we are already keeping an eye on the second storm that is brewing sa eastern seaboard natin, and we know na marami pang darating sa November. So we are ready, we have the funds, we can mobilize,” the DSWD chief emphasized.
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By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has expressed full support for the passage of House Bill No. 10423, also known as the Universal Social Pension Bill.
Gatchalian made this endorsement during the deliberation on the agency’s proposed 2025 budget on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.
House Bill No. 10423 aims to extend the government’s free social pension to all senior citizens.
“It’s fair. We are fully supportive of it, and it will certainly make our work much simpler. We understand the concept and believe it will make more people productive in a sense,” Gatchalian said in response to a query from Marikina 2nd District Rep. Stella Quimbo regarding the DSWD’s position on the bill.
Quimbo pointed out that many senior citizens contribute to their families by providing childcare, allowing other household members to be more productive.
Gatchalian also addressed concerns raised by United Senior Citizens party-list Rep. Milagros Magsaysay about delays in pension payouts. He attributed the delays to liquidation issues with partner-local government units (LGUs).
He further revealed that the DSWD is considering adopting the disbursement system used in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), where grants are credited directly to the beneficiaries.
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By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas vision, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has assured international partners that hunger will be eradicated in the Philippines by 2028.
“We believe that we can end hunger by 2027. It is a bold statement. We’ve consulted experts, and it can be done. By the time President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. steps out of office, wala nang Pilipino ang nagugutom,” Gatchalian confidently declared.
This commitment was his main message on Monday (29 July 2024), marking the first day of the familiarization visit of international partners.
A comprehensive presentation on the agency’s Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP) was delivered before the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Directors and country office representatives in General Luna, Surigao Del Norte.
The DSWD chief presented the scale-up plan for the FSP implementation.
The FSP aims to combat involuntary hunger by providing beneficiaries with electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards loaded with food credits amounting to Php3,000 to purchase a select list of nutritious food commodities.
Gatchalian mentioned that 300,000 households will receive EBT cards by the end of this year, another 300,000 households will be included in the program in 2025, and 400,000 more in 2026 to reach the target of 1 million household beneficiaries.
Aside from the FSP, Gatchalian also highlighted the recently concluded Walang Gutom Awards (WGA), a collaboration between the DSWD and the Galing Pook Foundation (GPF).
The WGA aims to honor and replicate the best practices of local government units (LGUs) in mitigating hunger in their localities. More than 100 LGUs participated, with 17 finalists making the list.
From the 17 finalists, 10 LGU winners received Php2 million each under the DSWD’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to help them expand their anti-hunger programs and cover more beneficiaries, further improving the health and nutrition status of their constituents.
The familiarization visit for the ADB executives, conducted annually, served as an opportunity for international partners to familiarize themselves with the Philippines, as the ADB’s host country, and ADB-supported programs and projects in the country.
This year, the ADB team visited Siargao to inspect various projects implemented by the DSWD, including the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP), the Expanded Social Assistance Project (ESAP) of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and the completed Typhoon Emergency Response.
Other DSWD officials present at the activity included Undersecretary for Innovations Eduardo Punay; Assistant Secretaries Baldr Bringas, Juan Carlo Marquez, and Marites Maristela; and DSWD Field Office-Caraga Regional Director Mari-Flor Dollaga-Libang.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the agency’s top management of its Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) to ensure the full automation of the inventory management of the Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC).
“We have to perfect the DRCC automation of the inventory management or the Automated Data Management System for Inventory. Basta ang importante, naka-preposition [relief goods] tayo with an aggressive digitalized system for inventory,” Gatchalian instructed the DRMG officials shortly after the SONA last Monday.
The DSWD chief stressed that the prepositioning of relief goods is an innovation of President Marcos.
“This is the vision of the President. We just put this [prepositioning] into action. It was started by then Secretary Erwin Tulfo and we built on it,” Gatchalian earlier said in a pre-SONA interview with the Peoples Television Network..
In his 3rd SONA, the President acknowledged that the government has established infrastructures that serve as protection and center for coordination, especially along the delivery of services and relief goods.
“Within the past two years, almost a hundred evacuation centers have already been built. While in January of this year, we started the operations of our Disaster Response Command Center, which shall serve as the central hub for the government’s disaster response efforts,” the President said.
Since its launch in January, the DRCC stands as a central hub for disaster monitoring, reporting, and coordination of preparedness and response efforts.
The DRCC utilizes advance information and communication equipment/assets to ensure the seamless collaboration between the DSWD Central Office, DSWD Field Offices (FOs), member-agencies of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and other stakeholders.
Gatchalian said the DRCC is reinforced by the Mobile Command Centers (MCCs), which bridge the communication gap during disaster or emergency operations by providing linkage from the disaster-stricken area to the Regional Operations Center (ROC), Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), or the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).
Each MCC is equipped with state-of-the-art satellite internet, gadgets, and generators that can be used as a source of power supply and internet connection for communities in disaster areas.
“This means that it can help a lot of affected residents to connect with their loved ones when the power supply in their area is down,” Gatchalian said.
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to swiftly deliver assistance to those affected by Typhoon Carina and the enhanced southwest monsoon, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has ordered the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) and DSWD field offices to immediately send family food packs and other relief items to typhoon-hit communities.
In a situation briefing led by the President at the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) Headquarters in Camp Emilio Aguinaldo on Wednesday (24 July 2024), Marcos Jr. directed the DSWD to adjust the distribution of relief items, especially in the areas with the most numbers of affected families.
“Yung distribution ng stockpile ninyo, i-adjust na ninyo. Nakikita na naman natin yung trend kung saan dumadaan, where are the areas that are being hit hardest. As much as possible, doon na tayo mag start prepositioning as a response to the need para hindi tayo mahirapan,” the President pointed out.
During the situation briefing, Special Assistant to the Secretary (SAS) for Disaster Response and Management Group (DRMG) and Concurrent Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the National Resource and Logistics Management Bureau (NRLMB) Leo Quintilla reported the activities and response efforts of the DSWD.
“Mr. President, currently we have a total of around one million family food packs (FFPs) and with a total standby funds and stockpiles funds of Php2.6 billion,” SAS Quintilla said.
The DSWD also maintains more than Php1.2 billion worth of other food and non-food items (FNIs).
According to the NRLMB Concurrent OIC, these stockpiles are in the agency’s disaster response centers, regional offices, and in the last mile warehouses in the LGUs, especially in the geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs).
The boxes of FFPs and other relief items have been prepositioned even before Typhoon Carina entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
“We still have around 1.6 million available FFPs through our framework agreement with different suppliers that are ready to be drawn down anytime we need additional relief goods to augment the LGUs,” the NLRMB Director said.
Based on the July 24, 6:00 AM report of the DSWD-Disaster Response Operations Management, Information Center (DROMIC), a total of 45,328 families equivalent to 91,062 individuals in 225 barangays in the National Capital Region (NCR), Regions 1 (Ilocos), 2 (Cagayan Valley), 3 (Central Luzon), CALABARZON, MIMAROPA, 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), 7 (Central Visayas), and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) have been affected by the weather disturbance.
Some 1,702 families or 6,524 persons are currently taking temporary shelter in 126 evacuation centers in the NCR, Regions 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, and CALABARZON and MIMAROPA.
The DSWD has earlier set its Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC) on red alert status or all human and material resources are available for duty and deployment.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Following the Chief Executive’s well-received State of the Nation Address (SONA), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian affirmed that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s vision of Bagong Pilipinas, where hunger is eradicated by 2027, and a single-digit poverty incidence is achieved by the end of his term in 2028, is right on track.
The DSWD chief referred to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) report showing that the country’s poverty rate fell to 15.5 percent in 2023 from 18.1 percent in 2021.
“The preliminary data from the PSA showing that the poor population declined to 17.54 million from 19.99 million in 2023 is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the DSWD’s anti-poverty programs,” Gatchalian said.
The PSA defines poverty incidence as the proportion of Filipino families with incomes insufficient to meet their minimum basic food and non-food needs, as estimated by the poverty threshold.
The DSWD’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) is a national poverty reduction strategy and human capital investment program providing conditional cash transfers to poor households for up to seven years to improve health, nutrition, and education.
“There is a misconception that 4Ps is ayuda. On the contrary, it is a development program designed to break intergenerational poverty—poverty passed down to children. Eradicating poverty is a long-term endeavor. President Marcos has directed a whole-of-government, whole-of-nation approach to reduce the poverty incidence to single digits by 2028,” Gatchalian explained.
The 4Ps program, launched in 2008 and institutionalized in 2019 through Republic Act No. 11310 (the 4Ps Act), provides cash grants to 4.4 million households (equivalent to 22 million individuals), ensuring their children receive subsidies to complete elementary and senior high school.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — In line with the vision of a progressive society under ‘Bagong Pilipinas’, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian urged members of the business sector on Wednesday (July 17, 2024) to strengthen partnerships with national government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to eradicate hunger and malnutrition in the Philippines.
Gatchalian made the call during the launch of the Kain Tayo Pilipinas (KTP) Movement in Makati City, emphasizing the necessity for a whole-of-nation and whole-of-society approach to tackle these critical issues.
“We can enhance the nutritional status of our Kababayans by fostering and sustaining partnerships at the local, regional, and national levels, ensuring a coordinated approach to sustainable food systems that support our economy, environment, and social structures,” said Gatchalian.
He encouraged business leaders to collaborate closely with LGUs, particularly those recognized in the 2024 Walang Gutom Awards for their effective programs aimed at eliminating hunger and addressing malnutrition at the community level.
“Every locality faces unique challenges—be it geographic, cultural, or social—but many have already developed successful solutions. They seek the partnership of the private sector to scale these initiatives,” Gatchalian noted.
During his address, Gatchalian provided updates on the DSWD’s anti-hunger and nutrition initiatives, including the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), Bangsamoro Umpungan sa Nutrisyon (BangUN) Project, Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP), and the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP).
The KTP movement, spearheaded by the Philippine Business for Social Progress (PBSP), unites private-sector organizations committed to combatting malnutrition and food insecurity through targeted community-based initiatives.
Alongside Gatchalian, attendees at the launch included Bacnotan, La Union Mayor Divina Fontanilla; DSWD Assistant Secretary for Partnerships Building and Resource Mobilization Ana Maria Paz Rafael; World Bank Senior Country Officer for Brunei, Malaysia, Philippines, and Thailand Dr. Clarissa David; and National Nutrition Council (NNC) Executive Director and Assistant Secretary Azucena Dayanghirang.
Leading the private sector contingent was KTP Chairperson Manuel V. Pangilinan, accompanied by KTP Board Member Manolito Tayag; PBSP Executive Director Elvin Ivan Uy; Zuellig Family Foundation President and Executive Director Austere Panadero; Galing Pook Foundation (GPF) Executive Director Georgina Ann Hernandez-Yang; and Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Business Network Secretariat John Echauz.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Enraged by the report that a pregnant woman who is a beneficiary of the P10,000 worth of cash aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) was short-changed by a barangay official, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Monday (10 June 2024) ordered the regional director of the DSWD Field Office 11 (Davao Region) to assist in the filing of charges against the corrupt local executive.
It was learned that the unnamed barangay official deducted P8,500 from the P10,000 worth of aid given to a pregnant woman last June 6.
“We are calling on all beneficiaries to never allow anybody to give their cash grants to them. Their grants are for them. And if somebody tries to get it, what they should do is report to the DSWD rather than give the cash grant,” Secretary Gatchalian said.
The DSWD Davao Region field office identified the victim as Anne Villarin, a beneficiary of P10,000 worth of cash aid under the AICS during the June 6 payout in Davao.
A still unnamed individual later told the pregnant Villarin “to remit the P10,000” to her barangay only to find out that the P8,500 was withheld from her and she was only given P1,500 by the barangay official.
“As soon as we saw the complaining victim online, we sent our social workers to see her and they were able to verify her complaint about the original P10,000 cash aid becoming a measly P1,500 after it was remitted to her barangay,” Gatchalian said.
The DSWD chief ordered Davao Regional Director Vanessa Goc-ong to accompany Villarin in filing both administrative and criminal complaints against the barangay official involved.
(el Amigo/mnm)
By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Extending courtesy to presidential sister Senator Imee Marcos and opposition Kabataan party-list Representative Raoul Manuel, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Friday vowed to investigate reports that their Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program is being used to gather signatures for a people’s initiative (PI) to push for charter change (Cha-Cha).
Gatchalian told reporters that he plans to meet with Sen. Marcos and Rep. Manuel, who have earlier claimed that they have received reports that the government’s ayuda programs are being used for Cha-Cha undertaking.
“Sisiguraduhin ko na iimbestigahan namin,” Gatchalian quipped.
However, he pointed out that the guidelines for availing of the AICS have not changed.
“Ina-assure namin ang taumbayan na ang AICS Program, at ang lahat ng program ng DSWD, yung guidelines niya, walang dinaragdag. Kung ano lang ang requirements noon katulad ng basic identification, social worker intake, mananatili na yun lamang ang requirements,” Gatchalian said.
He added: “Wala kaming dinaragdag na bagong mga requirements na paglahok sa kung anu-anong initiative.”
(el Amigo/MNM)