DSWD cites latest benefits of PH from ASEAN

MALOLOS CITY, Bulacan — ASEAN secures the well-being of all, and that is what the Socio-Cultural Community Pillar is all about.

Department of Social Welfare and Development Regional Director Gemma Gabuya said this during the recent Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Multi-Sectoral Forum of the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) at Robinsons Place Malolos.

“For 50 years, ASEAN has been looking after the well-being of the youth, senior citizens, persons with disabilities (PWDs), Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and women of all the member states of ASEAN. There are meetings, declarations, programs and agreements held and all these benefit us Filipinos,” she shared.

For the youth, Gabuya explained that the integration and implementation of the Senior High School in the country’s educational system is one move to help develop the Filipino youth to become globally competitive.

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda recently led the distribution of incentives to scavengers from the four districts of Pampanga as she vowed to help them lead a life of dignity guaranteed by laws.

The beneficiaries received 10 kilos of rice, packs of groceries, P1,000 plus school bags containing school supplies for their children, which were donations from the quarry operators of Porac. The distribution was held at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.

In her message, the governor reiterated her support to uplift the lives of the scavengers by planning to give them jobs in the construction industry.

According to governor Pineda, a construction company in the province is in need of workers and she is eyeing young scavengers aged 20 to 35 years old to be employed in order to earn.

The province’s chief executive also advised parents or adults who are sending their children to school to continue educating their kids, stressing that education in the province is given free from elementary to college.

“Pag-aralin ninyo ang inyong mga anak dahil libre ito sa mga state universities dito sa Pampanga. Kung nahihirapan kayo sa pamasahe i-aplay ninyo sila na mabigyan ng tulong mula sa kapitolyo.

“Aside from this, free education for all is now implemented in various state colleges and universities, which is another concrete example of the changes in the educational component in the country, and streamline it alongside ASEAN member states,” she explained.

On another note, Gabuya revealed that the Philippines is among the countries supporting the senior citizens through the implementation of social pension.

“ASEAN declarations are felt and held in our country, proving that the plans of President Rodrigo R. Duterte’s administration are good, particularly in the aspect of employment,” she noted.

“For OFWs, the ASEAN community made an agreement to maintain a give-and-take relationship in terms of manpower. Although there are interventions done, we are still hoping for a more solid regulation and program for the OFWs, which has been heard by the organization,” she said.

The Regional Director likewise mentioned that the participation of PWDs in most government programs now, and revealed that the current administration has been doing a swell job in granting benefits for the aforementioned.

Furthermore, Gabuya shared that women empowerment is very evident in the ASEAN community now, and gender discrimination is being slowly eradicated among member states.

“ASEAN, particularly the socio-cultural community pillar, will always be there to look after the welfare of all Filipinos,” she said.

The Multi-Sectoral Forum also featured an Information and Service Caravan where citizens got immediate support, consultation and free items from participating government agen ci es.

“We are doing this campaign, not only because we chair this year’s ASEAN, but also because we want to raise public awareness about ASEAN. We want the people to know the fullness of ASEAN,” PIA Regional Director William Beltran said.

— Trixie Joy B. Manalili/ CLJD/ PIA-3