Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday defended the P80,000 livelihood grant given to “Rose,” the woman seen emerging from a Makati drainage canal in a viral video, clarifying that the assistance is part of an ongoing government reintegration program launched last year.

In a radio interview, Gatchalian reiterated that the aid was not a reward, but a standard intervention under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pag-abot Program, which was launched in 2023 upon the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“Itong programa na ito ay nagsimula pa noong 2023—'yung Pag-abot Program. Ang utos ng Pangulo, dapat walang Pilipinong nakatira sa lansangan,” Gatchalian said.

(This program started in 2023—the Pag-abot Program. The President directed us that no Filipino should be living on the streets.)

He added that while addressing homelessness is primarily a local government function, the DSWD works with LGUs through a joint daily outreach program involving more than 100 social workers nationwide.

“Araw-araw, mula 2023, umiikot ang aming mahigit 100 social worker para mag-reach out sa mga pamilyang nakatira sa lansangan. 5,000 na ang ating natulungan,” he said.

(Since 2023, over 100 of our social workers have gone out daily to reach out to families living on the streets. We’ve already helped 5,000 people.)

Responding to criticism over the P80,000 aid amount, Gatchalian emphasized that the sum is within the program’s guidelines and was not exclusive to Rose.

"Yung P80,000 [na puhunan sa negosyo], hindi lang ito kay ‘Rose’ nangyari… Marami dun sa 5,000, nakatanggap ng P80,000," he explained.

(The P80,000 livelihood aid wasn’t just given to Rose... Many of the 5,000 beneficiaries also received P80,000.)

Rose rising on her own

Rose, he said, had already been trying to improve her situation even before the viral video, managing to rent a ₱2,000/month home with her partner a year ago.

“Hindi siya nakatira sa imburnal... Proud siya na one year ago, nakatira sila ng partner niya sa lansangan, pero nagsumikap sila para makaupa ng maliit na bahay sa Makati City worth ₱2,000/month,” Gatchalian said.

(She doesn't live in the sewer... She's proud that a year ago, she and her partner were on the streets, but worked hard to rent a small house in Makati worth ₱2,000/month.)

Gatchalian added that all assistance under the Pag-abot program is based on thorough case assessments.

“Bakit P80,000? Dumadaan 'yan sa masusing pag-aaral at assessment ng social worker… Hindi 'yan bara-bara lang,” he stressed.

(Why P80,000? That amount goes through careful assessment by social workers... It’s not arbitrary.)

Yesterday, Gatchalian also addressed public criticism, reiterating that the P80,000 grant is part of a long-standing DSWD reintegration program — and not a reward for going viral.

“First, this is not a reward. I want to clarify that this is part of the program to reintegrate individuals into the community. If we just return people to their communities, this will just repeat itself. We need to help them have new hope and start new lives through an economic grant,” Gatchalian said.

He also apologized to licensed social workers who may have taken offense at the term “honorary social worker,” which had been used symbolically to recognize Rose’s willingness to assist in the agency’s outreach efforts.

“If this term offended any of our social workers, I myself apologize. That was not the intention of our social workers or the Department or myself in giving her that symbolic title. But I want to assure you again that I know the DSWD has no power to confer any degree because that is not within our authority,” he said.

With Nicholas Price