Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo discussed the different issues faced by the Department and her priorities – from preparations for disasters, Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program, how to help in the rehabilitation of drug addicts, and streetchildren, in her  live studio guesting this morning at DZRH on the occasion of the radio station’s 77th Anniversary.

“Ang paghahanda sa mga kalamidad ang inuna kong tutukan  sa aking pag-upo lalo na dito sa padating na La Nina  (Preparations for disasters is my first priority upon assumption of office especially our  preparations for La Niña),” Sec. Taguiwalo stated.

“Para sa DSWD, ang pag-preposition ng goods ang aming palalawigin. Sana tulungan kami ng publiko para maagap na maibigay ang relief sa pamamgitan ng pagsabi kung ano ang kanilang sitwasyon at pangangailangan sa kanilang lugar  (For DSWD, we will broaden the prepositioning of goods. We hope the public will help us so we can immediately provide relief assistance by giving us feedback on their situations),” she added.

Sec. Taguiwalo also mentioned that she has recently attended the Pre-Disaster Risk Assessment (PDRA) at the National Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (NDRRMC) at Camp Aguinaldo and found this “impressive.”

Likewise, the DSWD chief underscored that the Department’s thrust, “Ay maging maagap at mapagkalinga sa pagserbisyo sa mamamayan. Ipagpapatuloy namin ang pakikipag-ugnayan sa mga iba’t-ibang sector, sa private sector, NGOs, kabilang na ang media (to be prompt and caring in rendering services to the citizens. We will continue coordinating with different sectors, NGOs, including media).”

On Pantawid Pamilya, she stated that, “Itutuloy siya ngayon, may budget siya hanggang 2016-2017. Ang gusto nating aralin ay paano makagraduate ang mamamayan natin mula sa isang programa na financial assistance na nakaugnay sa kalusugan at edukasyon ng mga bata, at ang sinasabi mismo ng mga nakatanggap ng tulong na sa totoo lang gusto nila ng hanapbuhay. Gusto nila tumindig sa sarili nila so tinitingnan natin ang usapin ng job creation at saka asset distribution. Sa tingin ko may mga ganito ring mga thrusts ang iba pang Departamento (it will be continued. It has a budget for 2016-2017. What we would like to study is how the citizens can graduate from a program providing financial assistance linked to the health and education of children, and the beneficiaries say that they want jobs. They want to stand on their own so we are looking at job creation and asset distribution. I think the other Departments have similar thrusts).”

“Tama kami ng sinabi ni Lisa Maza na ang isyu ng kahirapan ay hindi lamang iyan sa National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), hindi rin lamang iyan sa aming Departamento (Lisa Masa and myself are right in saying that the issue of poverty does not only belong to NAPC, or to our Department). It has to be the efforts of the whole administration, the whole government to address it,” she said.

“Ang conditional cash transfer ay isang bahagi lang iyon at hindi dapat iyon ang pang major na kabahagi kasi nga conditional siya so ibig sabihin Pantawid siya, ibig sabihin pansamantala (The CCT is only one part, and should not be the major thrust, because its conditional and it is temporary),” Sec.  Taguiwalo emphasized.

Regarding the administration’s ongoing campaign against drug pushers and users, Sec. Taguiwalo explained that, “Ang DSWD ang sasalo sa mga minors na drug users. Nagpapatawag ng meeting ang Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) para pag-usapan kung ano aming magiging role ng iba’t ibang ahensya (DSWD will take care of the drug users who are minors. DILG is calling for a meeting to discuss each agency’s role),” the Secretary said.

Meanwhile, on the issue of streetchidren, Sec. Taguiwalo explained that, “Yung sa streetchildren, major problem talaga kasi napakarami. Theoretically, dahil sa devolution, dapat local government units na ang may sakop niyan, subalit handa ang DSWD na tulungan sila. May mga facilities kami para sa mga bata, pero kulang pa din pati na sa budget  (Regarding streetchildren, this is really a major problem because they are so many. Because of the devolution, it should be the LGUs which have the jurisdiction over them, but we are ready to help. We have facilities for children, but these are not enough, even the budget).”

“We will look at the programs for streetchildren and streetfamilies from national to local level on how to improve these,” she added.

Starting next week, Sec. Taguiwalo will be going to DSWD field offices for regional consultations since they are the Department’s frontliners.

“Sila ang humaharap sa masa (They are the ones facing the masses),” she continued.

Sec. Taguiwalo also emphasized the administration’s campaign dubbed as “Tapang at Malasakit”. ###