In celebration of its 68th anniversary celebration this month, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  launched yesterday the “Biggest Loser, DSWD Edition” to emphasize the need for a healthy body to become better public servants.

Assistant Secretary Rhea Peñaflor, head of the 68th Anniversary Committee, led the launching, together with celebrity fitness coaches Toni and Jim Saret, during the Department’s flag ceremony.

“Our goal in the DSWD is to improve the well-being of our fellow Filipinos, yet napansin natin na ‘yong mga nagde-deliver ng services, ‘yong mga kasamahan nating staff, ay medyo hindi healthy (but we noticed that the ones delivering the services, our colleagues in the DSWD, are not that healthy). Thus, I asked celebrity fitness coaches Toni and Jim Saret to help us and they readily agreed since a healthy lifestyle is their advocacy,” Asec. Peñaflor said.

She added, ‘We want our workers to be healthy because we believe that having healthy employees will redound to the benefit of our clients.”

Thirty-nine overweight employees signed up for the challenge to seek a healthy body under the guidance of coach Toni and coach Jim.

One of the contestants, Kimiko Caitlin Lauz of the Standards Bureau, said, “Matagal na po ako sa DSWD na nagtatrabaho.  Ngayon naman po, gusto kong i-improve ang aking sarili (I have been working in the DSWD for a long time.  Now, I also want to improve myself).”

Another contestant, Aldin Siong Matildo, shared that although he just smiles when asked about his being obese, he also gets affected by it.  He added that at the back of his mind, “gusto ko rin maging healthy (I also want to become healthy).”

He added, “Nagpapasalamat ako sa DSWD sa pagkakaroon ng ganitong programa para matulungan kami.  Kasi mas pursigido ako magpapayat dahil madaming sumusuporta at may mga kasama rin akong kaibigan (I am grateful to DSWD for launching a program like this for employees to help us lose weight and be healthy.  Now, I am more determined since there are many who support me, as well as I have friends who are with me).”

Coaches Toni and Jim Saret also expressed their thanks to DSWD for inviting them to share their advocacy and gave their full support to the 39 contestants who are seeking to improve their lives through a healthy lifestyle.

The “Biggest Loser, DSWD Edition” is one of the activities for the 68th Anniversary Celebration of the DSWD from January 21 to 25 with the theme, “DSWD: Katuwang sa Pagbabago“, which focuses on the transformative service delivery of the Department in the lives of the poor, disadvantaged, and vulnerable sectors in society. ###