As part of the activities in observance of the 71st anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista attended the region-wide celebration of Field Office VI to recognize exemplary employees and partners.
Anchored on this year’s theme, “DSWD@71: Kabalikat ng Mahihirap sa Panahon ng Pandemya,” the event aimed at recognizing DSWD employees, stakeholders, and other partners in the region, who contributed to the Department’s goal of providing “Maagap at Mapagkalingang Serbisyo” to the poor and vulnerable, amid the pandemic and other disasters.
“Sa panahon ng pangamba mas ipinamalas ng Field office VI sa ilalim ng pamumuno ni Director Macapobre ang husay at kagitingan ng ating mga Angels in Red Vest sa paglilingkod sa ating mga kababayan sa Western Visayas nang walang bahid ng alinlangan para sa kapakanan ng lahat ng mga nangangailangan,” Secretary Bautista said.
The Secretary was joined by Undersecretary Adonis Sulit and Assistant Secretary Rhea Penaflor in honoring the awardees for the various categories under the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE), Pagkilala sa Natatanging Kontribusyon sa Bayan Awards (PaNata Ko sa Bayan), Gawad sa Paglilingkod sa Sambayanan (GAPAS), as well as the Loyalty Awards and other Special Citations.
“I hope your drive and commitment to be of service will not diminish. Your relentless efforts will always be appreciated and we anticipate the future achievements you will contribute for the betterment of our country and our people,” Secretary Bautista said as he expressed gratitude to the awardees.
Reinforcing service delivery
Aside from gracing the anniversary celebration, Secretary Bautista, along with Undersecretary Sulit, Regional Director Ma. Evelyn Macapobre, and Assistant Regional Director for Operations Evangeline Felecio, unveiled the marker of the newly-constructed building of the Field Office. 
Meanwhile, Undersecretary Sulit visited the residents of the Regional Center for Women located in New Lucena, Iloilo while they were conducting an art therapy session. The facility serves women and children who were victims of rape, incest, involuntary prostitution, illegal recruitment, domestic violence, and abandonment.
To date, some 21 residents are staying at the center and are provided with protective and rehabilitative services as well as skills training to help them regain their normal social functioning.
The Field Office, as it enters another year of public service, vowed to intensify its service delivery of social protection packages to the people of Western Visayas. ###
