Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assures indigenous peoples (IPs) of the government’s efforts to bring to them programs to address their needs during the pilot implementation of the Social Protection for Indigenous Peoples in Capas, Tarlac, on Thursday, February 29, 2024. INQUIRER FILES
MANILA, Philippines — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian assured indigenous peoples (IPs) of the government’s efforts to bring to them programs to address their needs.
During the pilot implementation of the Social Protection for Indigenous Peoples in Capas, Tarlac, on Thursday, the DSWD head told members of an Aeta community:
“Gusto namin malaman ninyo na kami sa DSWD ay naatasan ng Pangulo na umabot sa ating mga kababayan para maunawaan namin ang inyong mga pangangailangan; para malaman ninyo na ang pamahalaang nasyunal ay hindi kayo nalilimutan.”
(We want you to know that we at the DSWD have been assigned by the President to reach out to our countrymen so that we can understand your needs; so that you know that the national government has not forgotten you.)
“Alam namin minsan ang feeling ninyo ang layo-layo ng pamahalaang nasyunal sa inyo. Kaya sa araw na ito, baliktad, kami na po ang umabot sa inyo para malaman at maintindihan namin kung ano ang nga pwede pang itulong ng DSWD sa inyong komunidad,” he added.
(We know that sometimes you feel that the national government is far away from you. So today, on the contrary, we are the ones who reached out to you so that we can know and understand what else the DSWD can do to help your community.)
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Under the program, DSWD will interview IPs to determine their situations and extend the type of assistance that firs their needs.
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The agency said that during the pilot event, it served 633 Aeta families in nine sitios with each beneficiary given two family food packs.