DSWD Secretary Gatchalian, British envoy to PH renew ties on social welfare concerns

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday welcomed Hungarian Ambassador to the country Dr. Titanilla Tóth, who paid a courtesy visit on the DSWD chief at the Central Office in Quezon City.

Ambassador’s visit to Secretary Gatchalian was made more meaningful as the Philippines and Hungary commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries.

During their brief meeting, Secretary Gatchalian and Ambassador Toth discussed possible ways to further strengthen the delivery of social protection programs to Filipinos in need of assistance.

The DSWD Secretary provided an update to the visiting Ambassador on the ongoing relief operations in the oil spill in Mindoro Oriental.

Secretary Gatchalian said augmentation assistance is necessary to continuously help the victims to access basic needs such as potable water.

The Secretary also discussed the ongoing preparations to revive its Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) as a learning center to promote and upgrade the social work practice and profession in the Philippines.

In her response, Ambassador Tóth said that the Hungarian government will help the DSWD in its disaster response operations and in the development of certificate programs specializing on social work and community development.

In a separate meeting, Secretary Gatchalian met with Commission on Elections (Comelec) Commissioner Socorro Inting and Director Frances CM Aguindadao-Arabe for a possible partnership on voter’s education.

The Secretary expressed his support to the Comelec’s initiatives and mentioned that the DSWD is willing to assist them in advocating for the rights of Filipinos to vote and participate in the electoral process.

Secretary Gatchalian continues to meet with international and local development partners in an effort to better uphold the rights and provide appropriate services to the marginalized and vulnerable sectors, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. for an inclusive society. #

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DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Diana Rose S. Cajipe preside the video conference of Field Office Directors on Tuesday, April 25, as part of the Department’s preparations for the anticipated impacts of El Niño in the country.

DSWD ready to assist farmers, farm workers affected by El Niño

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assured the public that the agency has sufficient funds as well as food and non-food items (FNFIs) that are ready for distribution to those who will be directly affected by the long dry spell due to the looming El Niño.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday presided a video call meeting with the different Field Offices (FOs) to check on the preparedness of the regional directors for the El Niño phenomenon.

The online briefing, which was co-presided by Disaster Response Management Group Assistant Secretary Diana Rose S. Cajipe, was called by Secretary Gatchalian to ensure that funds and other relief items are prepositioned strategically in the DSWD warehouses and are readily available for immediate augmentation to local government units (LGUs).

All the regional directors and officers who attended the video conference affirmed that their respective FOs are on alert and have adequate standby funds and stockpile of food boxes for the anticipated impact of the drought.

Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) Teams in the different regions are also on standby and continuously coordinating with the LGUs to determine ways on how to assist those who will be affected by the dry spell, specially the farmers and farm laborers.

Currently, the DSWD Central Office, the FOs and the National Resource Operations Center have stockpiles and standby funds amounting to more than ₱1.35 billion.

According to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the El Niño will possibly develop in July, August and September and may persist until 2024.

Secretary Gatchalian has instructed all Field Offices to continue their monitoring of the situation in their respective areas so that appropriate response can be immediately provided, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to ensure that families affected by disaster will not go hungry. #

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DSWD to form Digital Transformation Team from the ranks of IT experts, professionals

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to form its Digital Transformation (DX) Team, which will be composed of talented and passionate professionals and experts from various Information and Communications Technology (ICT) disciplines, to play an integral role in revolutionizing social service delivery across the country.

As part of the DSWD’s digital transformation strategy and Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s “Ease of Doing Social Welfare” vision, the DX team will work on a wide range of innovative projects aimed at streamlining processes, enhancing accessibility and improving efficiency.

The DSWD leadership is committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to create a seamless, user-friendly experience for beneficiaries that will ultimately impact the lives of millions of Filipinos.

Currently, the Department is still in the process of establishing the team and is inviting applications from experts and professionals in various fields, including full-stack web development, UI/UX design, software quality engineering, cybersecurity, data privacy, project management, and enterprise architecture, who are interested to become part of the DX Team.

The DSWD aims to hire professionals who possess a strong desire to foster positive change through technology and contribute to a brighter future for the vulnerable and marginalized sectors.

Successful applicants will have the unique opportunity to work alongside a dedicated team of experts, collaborate with domestic and international agencies and access valuable resources and global best practices.

Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the DSWD website at [https://jobs.dswd.gov.ph] for detailed job descriptions, qualifications and application procedures. Applications will be accepted until the given deadline of each vacant position.

The DSWD looks forward to welcoming innovative and passionate individuals to its DX team and revolutionizing the future of social services in the Philippines.

By joining DSWD’s digital transformation journey, professionals can enhance their career prospects while making a meaningful difference in the lives of millions of Filipinos. #