DSWD commits to reach IP communities
DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rexlon “Rex” Gatchalian informed residents of the Aeta community of Maruglu village in Capas, Tarlac, on Thursday, February 29, that the national government is dedicated to reaching out to its people in remote locations.
“We would like you to know that we, from the DSWD, have been assigned by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to reach out to our fellow countrymen to understand your needs and to assure you that the national government has not forgotten about you,” Gatchalian said.
As part of the Social Protection for Indigenous Peoples program, Secretary Gatchalian said that the DSWD will reach out to more communities to find the best interventions based on the specific requirements of distinct Indigenous cultural communities and other Indigenous peoples (IPs).
“We understand that sometimes you feel the distance from the national government, so today, it’s the other way around,” Gatchalian said.
“We are reaching out to you to understand and comprehend how the DSWD can further assist your community,” he added.
Gatchalian stated that the agency’s goal is to improve the living circumstances of the poor and disadvantaged sectors, particularly members of the Aeta community.
The pilot program began on February 28, benefiting 633 Aeta families from nine zones in Maruglu village.
During the pilot rollout, social workers validated and interviewed recipients to acquire a better knowledge of their socioeconomic status, namely their access to essential services and social protection.
The organization provided two family food packs to beneficiaries, most of whom work in agriculture, as part of its response to the effects of El Niño.
The social protection program for IPs is a joint project of the Office of the Undersecretary of Legislative Affairs; Office of the Chief Information Officer; Social Technology Bureau; and the Kalahi-CIDSS National Program Management Office, which aims to empower the Aeta community in the pilot area.