Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo urged the members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to develop a model for social welfare to ensure that social protection programs are carried out effectively and efficiently.

This was the core of Sec. Taguiwalo’s message delivered by Undersecretary Ma. Lourdes Jarabe-Turalde this morning during the opening ceremony  of the High Level Conference on Social Protection ceremony at the Sofitel Hotel in Pasay City.

“Perhaps we can develop an ASEAN model for social welfare, which builds industries and create wealth from within. We need not look far, I trust in all your capabilities,” Sec. Taguiwalo stated in her message.

The DSWD chief also said that cash transfers are not the solution to poverty. She asked, “How do we wean governments out of cash transfer solutions? This is the P80 billion and increasing question that we at the DSWD are grappling with. With this amount, we can provide free college education, irrigation, and yet here we are looking for ways to pay for cash transfer through tax increases.”

Sec. Taguiwalo is the Philippines’ ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Leader. The ASCC Pillar bats for a people-oriented and people-centered ASEAN and ASEAN’s resiliency.

The ASCC Pillar is one of the three Community Councils within ASEAN which is focused on nurturing the human, cultural and natural resources for sustained development in a harmonious and people-oriented ASEAN.

The High – Level Conference on Social Protection tackled the Overview of Regional Framework and Action Plan to Implement the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Social Protection; Social Protection in the ASEAN; UNICEF Social Protection Strategic Framework and Initiatives in the ASEAN; and Country Report Presentation of Good Practices on Social Protection.

Meanwhile, Assistant Secretary Aleli Bawagan represented the DSWD at the on-going High-Level Regional Conference on Open Government,  a side event of the Philippines’ chairmanship of the ASEAN at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Pasay City.

Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco Jr. delivered the keynote message to the attendees of the event which serves as a convergence of representatives from the government and civil society at the local and international level to discuss the best practices in implementing good governance initiatives and open government reforms, and to encourage the other ASEAN member states to join the Open Government Partnership (OGP).

The event also marks the launching of the 2017-2019 Philippine Open Government Partnership (PH-OGP) National Action Plan.

The Philippines hosts this year’s ASEAN Summit with the theme, “Partnering for Change, Engaging the World.” ###