President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday told the Department of Social Welfare and Development to treat Filipinos with care as the department serves as the government’s “compassion central.”

In his speech during DSWD’s 73rd Anniversary held at its head office in Quezon City, Marcos explained that the country’s social welfare forces are always on red alert.

The President also asked the agency to treat the poor and vulnerable with care and kindness, “because that care is a hallmark of public service as well, and empathy goes a long way.”

“You are the country’s social welfare forces, always on red alert, in a country where distress calls from disaster victims and disadvantaged sectors never end,” Marcos said.

“As you put our people out of harm’s way, and on to the road to recovery and a better life, always serve your clientele with care and compassion as you have been doing,” Marcos added.

Marcos emphasized the importance of ensuring that individuals who are economically disadvantaged, in need, unwell, and those with disabilities should have access to government services through “access ramps.” He urged the government not to ignore or disregard the pleas of the people.

The Chief Executive also encouraged the DSWD not only to persist in delivering assistance and services to the public but also to maintain the distinctive standard of public service associated with the DSWD brand.

Marcos said the government has allocated P106 billion for more than four million beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps.

He added the government has allocated P49.8 billion for the social pension of 4.085 million seniors in the country.

The DSWD has a feeding program that is expected to serve tens of millions of hot meals to 2.027 million preschool children in communities worth P4.1 billion, he said.

He added that food stamps worth three thousand pesos per month are given to fifty thousand families.

“This year, Congress has once again increased the AKAP by twenty-seven billion pesos to further benefit the low-income workers more affected by the high prices of goods,” the chief executive said, referring to the Abot Kamay Ang Pagtulong program.

“In total, a significant portion of the population in our country receives assistance from DSWD, which helps them tide over, to help them get back on their feet, and not consigning them to a life of dependency because aid that emancipates a human being is the kind of dignified giving that the government should practice, and that this government is practicing,” he added.                    

With Jing Villamente