DSWD ramps up social services as Marcos admin unveils expanded efforts

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is taking on more responsibilities to meet the rising demand for social support, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Friday.

During the DSWD’s 73rd anniversary celebration in Quezon City, Marcos acknowledged the agency's evolving role and urged a compassionate approach in providing aid to those in need.

“At dahil dumadami ang nangangailangan ng tulong at ayuda, lumalawak tuloy ang inyong mandato (As the demand for help and assistance continues to rise, your mandate expands),” Marcos said.

According to the president, lawmakers have allocated additional resources to support DSWD's expanded initiatives. 

Congress increased the DSWD's budget to P245 billion for the current year, up from last year's P196.5 billion. This includes expanding programs like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) and Senior Pension.

For the 4Ps program, Congress allocated P106 billion, covering over four million families. An additional P49.8 billion was set aside for the social pension of 4.085 million senior citizens.

A significant allocation of P4.1 billion was directed towards DSWD's food catering operation, aiming to provide millions of hot meals to 2.027 million preschool children in communities.

Congress also boosted the budget for the Abot Kamay Ang Pagtulong (AKAP) program to P27 billion, aimed at helping small laborers cope with increasing prices.

Last Friday, Marcos inaugurated the DSWD’s Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC). The centralized hub, set to be operational next month, is designed to ensure efficient disaster response and relief operations nationwide.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian explained that the DRCC would enhance the efficiency of DSWD’s disaster response, providing real-time data for quick overviews of relief goods stockpiles during emergencies.

The DRCC is tasked to collaborate with key agencies, including the Department of National Defense (DND), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), Philippine Red Cross (PRC), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

In November of last year, the DSWD announced its shift from "ayuda" programs, gradually intregrating the "development" component into its initiatives to assist the poorest of the poor.