In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to provide assistance to all those in need, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) helps thousands of Filipinos daily, with or without social media attention.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian reaffirmed during a Palace press briefing on Tuesday the government’s commitment to assist Filipinos in need through various welfare programs.
Gatchalian addressed public discussion on the case of the street dweller referred to as “Rose,” who went viral for emerging from a sewer in Makati City last week.
The DSWD readily assisted Rose under the Pag-Abot Program, a government initiative launched in 2023 to help families and individuals living on the streets.
“Una po, araw-araw, libu-libo ng mga mamamayan natin ang pumupunta sa aming tanggapan at ang utos ng Pangulo, lahat ng nangangailangan ng tulong, tutulungan,” Gatchalian stressed.
Gatchalian said the assistance given to Rose was part of the DSWD response under the Pag-abot Program, where more than 100 social workers reach out to street dwellers in Metro Manila daily to provide intervention, including temporary housing and livelihood assistance.
The DSWD chief stated that the PhP80,000 livelihood assistance granted to Rose, which will be provided in tranches, was based on the agency’s guidelines and an assessment by a licensed social worker.
“Hindi ito ibinibigay ng isang bulto … in tranches siya ibibigay at may supervision at monitoring ng social worker. Sinamahan pa siya sa tindahan para makabili ng pauna niyang stocks… May mga home visits para ma-check ang progress,” Gatchalian said.
He said the DSWD also offers support to other sectors through programs like the Sustainable Livelihood Program, which assists low-income individuals in starting small businesses or gaining employable skills.
“Puwede nilang i-avail iyon at lahat ng detalye niyan nakalathala sa aming mga social media accounts,” Gatchalian said.
Gatchalian also clarified that Rose was not conferred any title as “honorary social worker,” explaining that the term was merely used by a DSWD staff member who found that Rose showed empathy, compassion, and altruism towards other people despite her situation. | PND
