Sec. Taguiwalo listens to a Pantawid Pamilya mother as part of the ‘Kamustahan Project.

Being true to its mandate of providing prompt and caring service to the poor, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has officially begun conducting its nationwide “Kamustahan” of program beneficiaries of the Department, particularly those under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

As part of the “Kamustahan,” DSWD officials, led by Secretary Judy Taguiwalo, have been visiting the poorest areas in the different parts of the country. The aim of the activity is for DSWD officials as well as rank and file employees to see for themselves the situation faced by the country’s poorest sectors. This is to enable DSWD staff and officials to be better equipped at re-aligning the agency’s programs and services so they will be more responsive to the needs of beneficiaries. It is also a way to bring the DSWD closer to poor communities and encourage all DSWD employees to work with the poor in efforts to address their immediate needs against poverty.   The DSWD’s main rallying call is “Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo (Prompt and compassionate service)” for the poor and the rest of the Filipino people.

Earlier this week, Sec. Taguiwalo herself led the conduct of a series of “Kamustahan” in the CARAGA Region. The activity was part of Sec. Taguiwalo’s two-day visit on Wednesday and Thursday in CARAGA.

The first “Kamustahan” in the region was conducted  at Brgy. Mambalili in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur, where most residents were farmers. Sec. Taguiwalo was joined by DSWD CARAGA Regional Director Minda B. Brigoli and various staff from the Regional Program Management Office (RPMO), Provincial Operations Office (POO), and Municipal Operations Office (MOO) of 4Ps.

The social welfare secretary visited Rowena M. Abasula and Evelyn P. Abogada’s house to personally interview them. Both Rowena and Evelyn have been beneficiaries of 4Ps since 2009.

“It is important that social workers and department officials do not lose touch with the poor. Social work is all about serving the poor and responding to their needs with the goal to help them become empowered. We must always consult with the poor regarding their problems when it comes to their livelihood and quality of life because these are almost always rooted in bigger, heavier social problems and issues. Our solutions to address poverty will never be enough or fail if and when we do not listen to what the poor have to say about their condition and what they need not only to survive, but to improve their lives,” she said.

After the house-to-house visit, Sec. Taguiwalo facilitated the conduct of a Focused Group Discussion (FGD) with other beneficiaries of 4Ps at a training center in the same barangay to learn more about how the program has been helping them.

The following day, Sec. Taguiwalo had a “Kamustahan”  with the members of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) San Vicente (Microfinance) Association at Brgy. San Vicente, Butuan City.

SLP San Vicente (Microfinance) Association is among the top-performing SLP associations in the country. It has served as a model of other SLP associations when it comes to micro-enterprise development and jobs creation through innovative lending programs, and credit and investment services.

Sec. Taguiwalo lauded the association’s micro-lending and micro-insurance projects and reiterated the DSWD’s commitment to providing livelihood programs for the poor so they can have a decent source of living and eventually be able to stand on their own feet.

According to Sec. Taguiwalo, it is important that the DSWD officials visit poor communities and not just wait for reports in the office. This way, they will have a better understanding of the plight of poor families, enabling them to develop programs that can better assist them. #