DSWD employees get bonus from Aquino for job well done

AFTER heaping praises on Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) personnel for their outstanding work, President Aquino Tuesday announced a P10,000 bonus for each DSWD employee.

The President disclosed the good news in his speech during the agency’s 65th anniversary rites held in Malacañang. He has been giving bonuses to personnel of agencies that have performed really well.

Mr. Aquino praised Soliman, whom he said was very hardworking being “on call 25 hours a day, 8 days a week.” “Without overtime and incentive bonus,” he added.

He also lauded three DSWD employees—Chona Calamba, Danny Bitara and Noemi Mongaya—from the agency’s offices in Regions 7, 5 and 8, respectively.

Calamba was cited for helping rescue families hit by the earthquake that devastated Bohol in 2013.

“Although pregnant and herself one of those affected by the disaster, she joined her colleagues in attending to the quake victims,” said the President.

Bitara and Mongaya, on the other hand, both helped in the rescue operations when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” ravaged areas in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas.

Also cited were the thousands of volunteers, including the following celebrities whom Mr. Aquino described as among agency’s “partners in social services”: former Bb. Pilipinas Venus Raj and show biz stars KC Concepcion, Anne Curtis, Iza Calzado and Gary Valenciano.

Mr. Aquino also hailed the services rendered by other DSWD field personnel who provided food, medicine and care to victims of recent calamities.

He recalled that following the devastation brought by Typhoon “Ondoy” in 2009, which he called the “pre-Daang Matuwid era.” He said, “it’s DSWD which asked the public to donate relief goods.”

“Now, you can see the big difference in the agency. It has the right budget, so it no longer needs to appeal for donations. Not only that. Shortly after the announcement of a coming typhoon, relief goods are already prepositioned and ready for distribution,” he said. Jerry E. Esplanada