Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Thursday (29 May) met with Rose, the woman who surfaced from a sewerage in Makati City, to check on her condition after the incident went viral and to let her know that the government is ready to assist her.

During the meeting held at the DSWD’s Pag-abot Center in Pasay City, Secretary Gatchalian said Rose will be given P80,000 in livelihood assistance to help her start a ‘sari-sari’ store which is her preferred entrepreneurial project.

“Ang magiging intervention natin kay Rose, pangarap daw niya kasing magkaroon ng tindahan at sa assessment ng ating social worker ay kaya naman niya,” Gatchalian said.

(Our planned intervention for Rose is to help her open a small store, as this has long been her dream. Based on the assessment of our social worker, she is capable of managing it.)

Rose, who was taken to the DSWD Pag-abot Processing Center in Pasay City for assessment, told the DSWD chief the real story behind her photos.

Rose, who collects recyclable garbage and sells them for a living, went into the sewerage after a small blade cutter she uses for her daily collection fell into the drainage.

Secretary Gatchalian also said that the DSWD will look into how Rose’s partner, Jerome, can be assisted.

Rose and Jerome lived in a street along Pasong Tamo in Makati City for a year but persevered to earn and be able to rent a space where they could stay.

“Si Jerome, ang kanyang partner, ay dadalhin din niya sa atin baka matulungan sa training dahil marunong mag–welding. So, baka matulungan sa pagbili ng welding machine para yung kita nilang dalawa mas maging stable,” Gatchalian pointed out.

(Jerome, her partner, will also be brought to us in case we can help him through training since he knows how to weld. We might be able to support him by providing a welding machine so that their combined income can become more stable.)

Gatchalian said helping Rose and other families and individuals in street situations (FISS) or those living in the streets is a tall order from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Ang DSWD ay naatasan ng ating Pangulo para siguraduhin na ang ating mga mamamayan na nakatira sa lansangan ay nakukupkop natin dito sa ating shelter, eto nga ang Pag-abot Center,” Gatchalian said.

(The DSWD has been tasked by our President to ensure that our fellow citizens living on the streets are taken into our care through shelters like the Pag-abot Center.)

The Pag-abot Center has been in operation since 2023 catering to FISS by providing them with temporary shelter before they are brought back to their respective hometowns where they can start anew through the different interventions under the Pag-abot Program.

Gatchalian said that Rose has committed to help in the program by going out with the Pag-abot team during reach out operations to convince other families and individuals living in the streets to go to the center and be given appropriate interventions.

“Tutulong si Rose. Yung mga nakakasalamuha niya na kagaya niya ng sitwasyon, tutulungan niya kami na kumbinsihin sila na sumama dito sa Pag-Abot shelter para mabigyan ng tulong,” Gatchalian said.

(Rose will be helping out. She’ll assist us in convincing others in similar situations to join the Pag-Abot shelter so they can also receive support.)