The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has brought its programs and services closer to the people of the Negros Island Region (NIR) with the opening of a new Field Office (FO) and Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) satellite office in Talay, Dumaguete City.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the inauguration of the new office on Thursday, 7 August, alongside agency officials, NIR congressional representatives, and local leaders.

“Today is a testament of that vision of bringing services closer to our people,” Secretary Gatchalian said during a simple ceremony.

According to Gatchalian, the field office fulfills a long-standing goal to deliver public service directly to communities. He added that the long-term vision is to establish a larger office on government-owned land to accommodate more sectors.

“We are very happy to be renting this place. But the long-term vision is to hopefully find a permanent home that the government will own and build a bigger — this one is big — but we want a bigger office so that we can cater to more clients,” Gatchalian said.

The DSWD chief also emphasized the crucial role of personnel—known as the “Angels in Red Vests”—in giving true value to the new facility.

“The office is only 25 percent of the equation. The 75 percent — kayo ‘yun. You can have a really nice office, but if there’s no passion and there’s no love and there’s no extra love and extra care in delivering service, the office will just be a hollow, empty space,” he told the staff.

He encouraged NIR personnel to maintain a high level of dedication and enthusiasm every day.

“Kung gaano kayo ka-excited ngayong umaga, dapat ganyan every single day,” Gatchalian added, drawing cheers from the staff.

Gatchalian also shared good news with FO NIR personnel, who were previously assigned to DSWD FO 6 (Western Visayas) and FO 7 (Central Visayas).

“I know you came from different regions. But the good news is, from my understanding and nandito naman ‘yung mga Congress people natin. I think the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has already put a line item for the plantilla, for the MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses) of the NIR, across all the national agencies, to include DSWD,” he said.

With the establishment of the new office, residents of the NIR can now directly access DSWD programs such as financial assistance, disaster response, social pensions, livelihood aid, and other welfare services within their newly created region.