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Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Iloilo Governor Arthur R. Defensor, Jr., Pototan Mayor Rafael Enrique P. Lazaro, and DSWD Field Office (FO) VI Regional Director Atty. Carmelo N. Nochete present the signed Deed of Usufruct which grants the DSWD the temporary rights to construct a regional warehouse in Pototan, Iloilo on March 10, 2023.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Iloilo Governor Arthur R. Defensor, Jr., Pototan Mayor Rafael Enrique P. Lazaro, and DSWD Field Office (FO) VI Regional Director Atty. Carmelo N. Nochete present the signed Deed of Usufruct which grants the DSWD the temporary rights to construct a regional warehouse in Pototan, Iloilo on March 10, 2023.

In line with the efforts to strengthen the disaster preparedness and response measures of the Philippine government, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Field Office (FO) VI, inked a Deed of Usufruct with the local government unit (LGU) of Pototan in Iloilo Province for the right to use one of their land property for the construction of a regional warehouse in the said municipality.

The partnership signing was conducted by DSWD Regional Director Atty. Carmelo N. Nochete and Potatan, Iloilo Mayor Rafael Enrique P. Lazaro, and was witnessed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Iloilo Provincial Governor Arthur Defensor, Jr. on March 10, 2023 at the Iloilo Provincial Capitol.

The Deed of Usufruct grants the DSWD FO VI the temporary rights to use the land in Brgy. Tumcon Ilaya, Pototan, Iloilo for a period of 25 years through Sangguniang Bayan (SB) Resolution No. 2023-022. The land area will be used for the construction of a regional warehouse to preposition food and non-food items which can easily be augmented to localities in Iloilo and other nearby provinces before the onset of any disaster or calamity.

Aside from the ceremonial signing, Secretary Gatchalian also met with local officials and inspected centers and residential care facilities managed by the DSWD catering to the needs of women.

The Secretary visited the Home for Girls (HFG) in Brgy. Pungtod, Cabatuan, and the Regional Center for Women (RCW) in New Lucena, Iloilo to check the condition of their clients and ensure the adequacy of resources and staff catering to the needs of the residents.

Secretary Gatchalian also paid a courtesy visit to Iloilo Governor Defensor, Jr. and Iloilo City Mayor Jerry P. Treñas, represented by Iloilo City Vice Mayor Rodolfo T. Ganzon to discuss possible areas of partnership to improve the delivery of social protection services to their constituents.

Before returning to Manila, the Secretary also graced the 72nd anniversary celebration of DSWD FO VI.

In the coming weeks, the Secretary is set to visit other Field Offices to inspect other centers and residential care facilities, as well as to meet with local chief executives to improve the DSWD’s collaboration with local government units. ###