Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday defended the P80,000 livelihood grant provided to “Rose,” the woman seen emerging from a Makati drainage canal in a widely circulated video, clarifying that the assistance is part of a government reintegration program that began last year.

In a radio interview, Gatchalian reiterated that the aid was not a reward but a standard intervention under the DSWD’s Pag-abot Program, launched in 2023 under the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

“This program started in 2023 — the Pag-abot Program. The President directed us that no Filipino should be living on the streets,” Gatchalian said.

He explained that while addressing homelessness is primarily a function of local government units, the DSWD collaborates with them through a joint daily outreach program involving over 100 social workers nationwide.

“Every day since 2023, more than 100 of our social workers have been going out to reach out to families living on the streets. We’ve already helped 5,000 people,” Gatchalian said.

Responding to criticism regarding the P80,000 aid amount, Gatchalian stressed that the sum falls within the program’s guidelines and was not exclusive to Rose.

“The P80,000 [for business capital] wasn’t just given to Rose... Many of the 5,000 beneficiaries also received P80,000,” he explained.

Gatchalian also cited that Rose had already been working to improve her situation before the viral video, managing to rent a P2,000-per-month home with her partner a year ago.