The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to provide stronger social services that can adapt to the changing socioeconomic landscape this year, reaffirming its commitment on Friday, January 5th. With a budget of P245 billion for 2024, the agency plans to fund existing social welfare and development programs, as well as implement digital transformation innovations.
DSWD Assistant Secretary for Legislative Affairs and co-spokesperson Irene Dumlao stated that under the leadership of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the agency will focus on the development and deployment of automated systems for priority frontline services, streamlining benefit disbursement, and promoting financial inclusion. The DSWD also plans to retool existing programs to be more inclusive and adaptive to the changing needs of target beneficiaries.
In addition to providing continuous assistance to graduating and exiting 4Ps beneficiaries in collaboration with local government units (LGUs), the DSWD plans to introduce new programs. This includes the full operationalization of the DSWD Academy to assist LGUs and social welfare agencies in providing social protection services, as well as the launch of the “Buong Bansa Handa” program, a new disaster preparedness program to supplement the existing government disaster supply chain.
The agency also aims to strengthen its disaster response and management operations by launching the new Disaster Response Command Center, a centralized hub that will operate 24/7 for disaster monitoring, reporting, data and information management, and relief efforts between the DSWD central office and its field offices.
Dumlao assured the public of a stronger and more efficient delivery of social welfare and development services that will uplift the lives of Filipinos in need in 2024 through these programs.
