Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian meets with representatives of World Bank (WB) on Wednesday (September 18) to discuss lined-up initiatives for social protection under the joint project Beneficiary Fast, Innovative, Responsive, Service Transformation (BFIRST).

The meeting revolved on ways to augment the implementation of BFIRST, focusing on the utilization of advanced systems and technology to improve the department’s social welfare services.

Joining the DSWD chief in the meeting were Undersecretary for Policy and Plans Group (PPG) Adonis Sulit, and Asst. Secretary for External Assistance and Development Juan Carlo V. Marquez, who is also the BFIRST Project Manager.

The WB representatives present in the discussion were Country Director for Brunei, Malaysia, and Philippines Zafer Mustafaoglu; Regional Director for Human Development in East Asia and the Pacific Alberto Rodriguez; Lead Economist for Tajikistan Manuel Salazar; Lead Economist and Human Development Program Leader for the Philippines Tara Beteille; Lead Economist and Human Dev’t Program Leader for Kyiv Ukraine Caryn Bredenkamp.