The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has reassured the Filipino people that the agency will continue to provide social safety nets to cushion the impacts brought by disasters and other emergencies, including inflation.
“Puspusan naman po ang ginagawa ng ating Departament na makatulong dito sa ating mga kababayan para ma-cushion yung effects ng mga event na nabanggit ko at hindi sila ma-caught into poverty trap,” Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao, who is also the agency spokesperson, said at the DSWD Media Forum on Thursday (January 9) at the Central Office’s New Press Center in Quezon City.
“Just to add, lalong titiyakin ni DSWD na magpapatuloy yung pamamahagi ng tulong para lalong hindi makaramdam itong mga respondents ng kahirapan,” the DSWD spokesperson added in response to a question on the Social Weather Stations’ (SWS) December 2024 poverty data.
The SWS December 2024 survey showed that 63 percent of families considered themselves as poor, four percent higher than the 59 percent in September 2024.
According to Asst. Secretary Dumlao, the effects of the series of typhoons, other disasters, as well as inflation were some of the factors that may have affected one’s perception or how they see themselves.
“Kung titingnan natin last year, maraming mga disaster na nangyari, yung El Niño, yung iba’t ibang mga bagyo, and of course yung inflation. Ang mga factor po na iyan ang nakaaapekto sa perception ng mga respondents sa nararamdaman nila kung sa tinign nila ay nakararamdam sila ng kahirapan o hindi,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao pointed out.
The DSWD spokesperson said programs like the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which invests in education and health, aim to help beneficiaries rise from poverty.
“The country is investing heavily in reducing poverty incidence. Namumuhunan tayo sa edukasyon, kalusugan, sa pamamagitan ng Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), and other developmental projects,” the DSWD official pointed out.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao added: “Ayaw natin na madagdagan yung bilang ng mga mahihirap nating kababayan and we want to build more resilient communities kaya po tayo may social safety nets.” (YADP)
