By Leilani S. Junio
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy Taguiwalo (center) makes the Duterte fist-gesture together with other DSWD Executive Committee (Execom) members to highlight their continuous vow to bring more efficient services after citing their accomplishments in their first 100 days in office on Tuesday (Oct. 11, 2016). Others in photos are (from left) DSWD Assistant Secretary Aleli B. Bawagan, Asec. Hope V. Hervilla, Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera, Usec. May Fe Ancheta, Usec. Florita R. Villar, and Asec. Jose Antonio Hernandez. (MNS photo)
MANILA (PNA) – Bringing of prompt and compassionate services to the poor, fair treatment in addressing the concerns of its vulnerable clients and beneficiaries while echoing the government’s relentless anti-corruption campaign are the phrases that aptly described the accomplishments of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) during the first 1OO days under the Duterte administration.
“By fair treatment, meaning if you have referrals or not and you are in need and qualified for our service, you’ll be given such service,” Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo said in a press briefing held at the DSWD Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.
She explained that their main thrust is listening to the sentiments of DSWD constituents such as poor and vulnerable sectors of society comprising of persons with disabilities (PWDs), senior citizens, women, children, youth, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender), among others, suffering from crisis situations.
Taguiwalo shared that marginalized clients seeking help from the DSWD’s Assistance for Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) were also given different types of assistance that they needed.
AICS is where the people go to seek support in times that they are suffering from crisis situations and needing medical, burial, financial, educational, transportation assistance, etc.
In relation to AICS, the DSWD Chief mentioned the issuance of Memorandum Circular Nos. 9 and 10 on this for clarification on the operational policies or guidelines in providing assistance to individuals in crisis situation.
Aside from this, she also cited other programs of the department addressing concerns on hunger, repatriated and distressed overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) and their families, Lumads and other indigenous peoples, soldiers either wounded or killed in action and their families.
Secretary Taguiwalo also mentioned the agency’s accomplishment in terms of finalizing the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of the Centenarians Act or Republic Act No. 10868. The IRR was signed last Sept. 26 in Malacanang by President Rodrigo R. Duterte.
The DSWD Chief also said that they have developed and disseminated various information materials to explain the services and benefits offered by the Department.
She added that problems about children in the streets were also given attention.
“Just yesterday, we met with officials of various local government units (LGUs) as well as civil society organizations (CSOs) assisting street children,” she said.
On Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), she said that they will converge with other concerned agencies to ensure that the poor families already identified to be in the category of non-poor will be given focus in terms of strengthening their capacity to sustain the path to self-sufficiency so that they will not slide back to where they have been before.
She explained the objective of this is to eventually make the said beneficiaries self-reliant and resilient to other factors that may arise and hamper the road to their dream of enhanced lives or not remain poor forever or overpowered by economic shocks.
“This requires multi-government approach… Other government agencies and stakeholders have to do their share also,” she said.
She further shared that they will also make a visit to some of the beneficiaries that are in transitioning status.
She also mentioned other efforts that she and other members of the DSWD Executive Committee have done such as visiting the different DSWD field offices, assessing the status of typhoon “Yolanda” donations, and finding ways on how to simplify and enhance the system of giving assistance, especially for victims of disasters, big or small.
She also shared how they are handling the concerns on Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) and in ensuring that similar problems can be better addressed in the future as part of the desire to lessen the complexities of the requirements to comply in availing of such assistance.