DSWD CO and FO NCR with DOH through Tondo Medical Center conducted an outreach mission at Isla Puting Bato, Tondo, Manila. The residents availed of hot meals, medicines and medical services.

As the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) celebrates its 66th Foundation Anniversary, it continues to reinforce Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo (prompt, compassionate service) to the sectors it is mandated to serve by conducting activities which reach out to urban poor communities.

True to its 66th year anniversary theme, DSWD@66 May Malasakit, the department’s Central Office, together with Field Office NCR and Tondo Medical Center conducted an Information/Serbisyo Caravan in Isla Puting Bato, an urban poor community in Tondo, Manila.

In December, the DSWD team went to Isla Puting Bato to distribute IEC materials on the department’s programs and services. The team went back yesterday, February 2, to conduct feeding program to 200 children and distribute some vitamins donated by Ritemed, cookies, toiletries and pre-loved clothes for babies, toddlers and children.

DSWD’s partner agency, the Department of Health-Emergency Management Bureau (DOH-EMB) once again sent a team of doctors, nurses and pharmacists from the Tondo Medical Center, who provided free medical consultation and medicines.

The long line of residents who availed of the medical services and medicines proved that health care is an important issue in this urban poor community, where most of the menfolk work as ‘kargador’ in the shipping yards surrounding the area.

According to some of the women the team interviewed, “naglalabada sila or nangangalakal para makatulong sa gastusin ng kanilang pamilya (they wash clothes or scavenge to augment the meager income of their husbands).”

A single mom with an epileptic child lamented that the little money she earns from washing clothes goes mostly to food. Since her child suffers from a medical condition, she has to bring him to the hospital for medical procedures and other laboratory tests, and buy his maintenance medicines, which she could hardly afford.

“Sana po ay matulungan ako upang maipagamot ko ang aking anak (I wish somebody would help me for my son’s treatment),” she appealed.

Staff from DSWD’s-Crisis Intervention Unit explained to her that she can avail of medical assistance for her child through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).

Social workers from DSWD Central Office and FO NCR responded to queries of the residents regarding DSWD programs and services, such as AICS, Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, 4Ps, livelihood and other programs for vulnerable sectors.

Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo emphasized, “Habang ipinagdiriwang namin ang ika-66th anibersaryo ng Kagawaran sa buwang ito, nais din naming patuloy na maabot ang kapus-palad at mahihirap nating kababayan upang ipaalam sa kanila ang mga ibat-ibang programa at serbisyo ng DSWD at ng ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan. Layunin namin na ibahagi sa kanila ang tagumpay ng DSWD. Gusto rin namin silang makisaya sa mahalagang okasyon na ito  (While we are celebrating the Departments 66th Anniversary this month, we would also  like to continuously reach out to our less privileged and poor countrymen to inform them of the different programs and services of the DSWD and other government agencies.  We want to share with them the success that we have achieved. We want to celebrate this significant occasion with them).”

The DSWD started its Anniversary celebration last January 3 with a series of activities culminating on February 24. ###