President Rodrigo R. Duterte commended the personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) for their “unwavering dedication to public service,” highlighting their role in uplifting the lives of millions of Filipinos.

The President made the remark in his speech during the culminating activity of the 69^th Founding Anniversary celebration of DSWD held at the Department’s Central Office in Batasan, Quezon City on January 29.

In his message, President Duterte said DSWD has been the lead agency of the government in ensuring that Filipinos have equal access to opportunities and are enabled to improve their quality of life.  

“Such an enormous task cannot be done without a sincere heart and mind for public service. I thus commend the thousands of DSWD employees for their unwavering dedication to public service,” he said.

The President also thanked the employees of DSWD, together with the military, for their hard work during times of emergencies.

“Gusto ko lang ipaalam sa inyo na one of the noblest thing is really your job, feeding people and saving lives,” the President said, emphasizing that he veered away from his prepared speech to personally express his appreciation for the important role of the Department.

“I am confident that you will remain committed, patient and compassionate as you perform your vital role in uplifting the lives of millions of Filipinos,” he added.

During the event, President Duterte unveiled the marker for the Department’s new building named the “Malasakit Building” and witnessed the virtual inauguration of the completed projects under the Centers and Residential Care Facilities (CRCF) Infrastructure Project of DSWD.

The Malasakit Building was constructed to enhance DSWD’s operational capacity by providing additional workspace and a comfortable environment for its clients and personnel.

The CRCF, on the other hand, is one of the priority social infrastructure projects of the government. It covers the construction, rehabilitation, and improvement of DSWD’s centers and residential care facilities in different parts of the country to give better care and welfare services to the members of the vulnerable sectors.

The President also awarded the exemplary employees of the Department namely, Marissa Nartea of DSWD-Field Office VIII as Gawad Huwaran and Mark Anthony Viernes of Field Office X as Best Social Worker. The President gave each awardee a cash gift. Meanwhile, the President awarded P100,000 to the Home for Girls in Caraga which was named as Best Center under the DSWD Program Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE).

For his part, DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista thanked the President for being with DSWD during its 69^th Founding Anniversary celebration. 

“I have the honor of presenting to you the members of the 24,000 government workforce coming from the Central Office and 16 Field Offices who wish to thank you for taking time off from your busy schedule to be with us in the 69^th Founding Anniversary of the Department,” Sec. Bautista said.

The Secretary added that the President’s being on board in every calamity, volcanic eruption, tragedy, armed conflict, and unforeseen circumstances involving the poor has brought hope to the underserved and inspired DSWD to intensify efforts in attaining a just and equitable society for all that is in sync with the Philippine Development Plan of 2017-2022.

DSWD’s month-long anniversary celebration carried the theme, “Social Integration: DSWD’s Major Thrust in line with the Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022.” Being the lead agency in social protection, the Department has developed and implemented various initiatives that are innovative and responsive to the emerging needs of the various sectors of society to achieve its goal for all Filipinos to have greater socioeconomic resiliency as envisioned by the Philippine Development Plan.

In closing, Sec. Bautista appealed to everyone in the DSWD family to work hard to sustain the Department’s recent gains.

“As the DSWD Founding Anniversary festivities come to an end, I ask my fellow workers at the Department to join me in working harder to make DSWD be known as the agency of government which renders proactive policies; responsive, compassionate, and humane service for our people,” he ended. -30-