DSWD’S cash-for-work program benefits 207K PWDS nationwide

THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has already provided cash assistance amounting to more than P830 million to 207,152 persons with disabilities (PWD) in 150 different municipalities across the country, an official report released by the agency said.

The DSWD said the figure is only as of January 19, and consolidation of the final reports of the beneficiaries from the Field Offices is still ongoing.

The payout activities were conducted simultaneously in December 2022 for DSWD’S cash-for-work (CFW) intended for PWDS in the country as part of the agency’s compliance with the Marcos administration’s mandate to bring the government programs closer to the people.

Some of the community works and services conducted by the PWDS include communal gardening, tree planting, cleaning of public offices and surroundings and coastal cleanup, among others.

Dubbed as “Buhaynihan or Buhay at Bayanihan para sa Mamamayan Cashfor-work for Persons with Disabilities,” the project was spearheaded by the DSWD Kapit-bisig Laban sa Kahirapancomprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to provide assistance to the vulnerable sectors and bring the programs directly to the Filipinos.

This is also in response to the emerging priority for the provision of programs and services to PWDS, and the recognition of their human rights.

The DSWD, as the lead agency in protecting the rights of the vulnerable and marginalized sectors, vowed to continue to implement social protection packages for every Filipino, particularly PWDS.

Meanwhile, the DSWD is warning the public against giving monetary or in-kind support to fraudsters and scammers using falsified solicitation permits allegedly for the benefit of the needy sector.

The warning came after the DSWD received information that a group, the Department for the Blinds Welfare of the Philippines Inc., was undertaking public solicitation presenting a certificate of fund raising allegedly issued by the DSWD.

The alleged certificate bore the falsified signature of then DSWD Field Office III Director and now Assistant Secretary Marites M. Maristela.