(This article won 1st place in the Essay Writing Contest during the recently concluded DSWD 61st Anniversary celebration. The writer is a staff of the AVRC III, a visually-impaired Massage Instructor)
The Department of Social Welfare and Development for the past sixty one years has been the government agency bearing the corporate identity of being the hope to the hopeless, the light in the dark, comfort of the victims of abuse or disaster and the protector of the vulnerable. It has been in the frontline of all the calamities that struck our country; typhoons, earthquakes, and ETC., and in the many sensational cases of violence where hapless souls were rescued from the clause of mighty foes whose motives and intensions were nothing but destruction to the lives of their victims.
For over half a century the foregoing has been the image of the department which made it build a landmark in the hearts and minds of the Filipino people. But in recent years, in view of the rising incidents of poverty, the department went on a paradigm shift wherein its task was not only reactionary. It has been given the mandate to perform an active role in rebuilding the country through programs and services aimed at reducing and eventually annihilating poverty. However, this mission would never be a walk in the park. The destruction brought forth by the many cancers of our society could never be repaired overnight. It would take decades and a dynamic, comprehensive and collective effort to overcome poverty and raise the standard of living of people.
At present the CCT has been the talk of the town. It has certainly made a difference in the lives of extremely poor families. But no matter how noble its purpose, issues of irregularities somehow lingered in the remote and dark corners where alleged incorrect listing was done. Greed and selfish interests of some, especially local officials who desired to gain more influence and let their constituents feel their power mainly stain the magnanimous intensions of the project.
Another remarkable step taken by the department was the implementation of Kalahi CIDDS projects wherein development was made available even to the remotest barangay which has never been served before. It was not only social welfare intervention but a wholistic development which also brought forth infrastructure projects that made those indigenous people feel the love and care of the Philippine government. These projects provided clean water, schools, farm to market roads and ETC., as the communities badly need.
For the Persons With Disabilities sector the department has been the sole provider of programs and services which addressed their needs. Through the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center and the three Area Vocational Rehabilitation Centers the poorest of the poor Persons With Disabilities found opportunities for a better life. With allowances (gratuity) to support their daily needs while ongoing training, they are placed in the best position to undergo social rehabilitation to increase self-esteem and became socially functional as well as to acquire skills that would make them economically efficient. (JPA/JMM/DSWD9/PIA-ZBST).