The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) honored its outstanding officials, employees and offices at the awarding ceremonies for the national winners of the Programs on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE) held on Tuesday  (February 6) at the Landbank Plaza Auditorium in the City of Manila.

The annual PRAISE Awards is the DSWD’s way of thanking exemplary staff for their dedication and hard work in exhibiting notable contributions toward the improvement of systems, processes, and operations in the Department.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, who led the awarding rites, expressed his gratitude to the hardworking men and women of the Department, who are also called ‘Angels in Red Vests.’

“Over the course of its 73 years, the DSWD remains one of the top agencies providing excellent public service to the Filipino people. We owe this to our staff – our Angels in Red Vests – who have dedicated their lives to ensure that the DSWD’s legacy of providing a ‘Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo’ lives on,” the Secretary said in his message.

The DSWD Secretary also mentioned that the red vest being worn by DSWD personnel are a symbol of “love for the Filipino people” which is in line with the Bagong Pilipinas brand of the administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

“Sa Bagong Pilipinas dapat tayo lahat nakasuot ng red vest kasi yun ang simbolo ng Bagong Pilipinas,” the DSWD chief said.

(In the New Philippines, we should all wear red vests because it symbolizes the New Philippines.)

Senator Imee Marcos, who served as the guest speaker of the event, also thanked the DSWD workforce for dedicating their lives in serving the Filipino people.

“I am certain that with your all-out work attitude, your selflessness, and indeed, your sacrifice an old fashioned word, that DSWD is really the ethos, I am certain that we will still be able to help our countrymen,” Sen. Marcos, who chairs the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, said in her speech.

The national PRAISE Awards is the culminating activity for the Department’s 73rd founding anniversary celebration, with the theme: Angels in Red Vests: Empathy in Action, Integrity in Service, Unity in Community. #