On “Balik Probinsiya”

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) welcomes any opportunity to be of service to the country with Senator Bong Go’s proposal for ‘Balik Probinsiya’.

We feel this must be an inter-agency relocation effort.

As economics (livelihood, employment, housing, food supply), socio cultural factors, religion, health, and sanitation facilities, education, training and skills to gain employment based on local employment and industry demands, law and order, wages and labor laws, among others have to be considered.

On the DSWD part, our social workers can do social case management on families willing to relocate.

We advocate a gradual moving out by phases depending on the capacity of the accepting local government units (LGUs) in order to be able to support and sustain the successful relocation of migrants from the National Capital Region (NCR).

The Bayanihan Spirit of Filipinos

We celebrate the bayanihan spirit of Filipinos, as shown by our Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiary-family heroes, who choose to share their blessings through self sacrifice, for a more needy family, most especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The heartwarming stories of these poor informal sector families of society, who have been chosen as SAP beneficiaries by their City and Municipal Social Welfare Development Offices (C/MSWDOs), who have been making the rounds in the barangays of their respective cities and municipalities, showcase the essence of the Bayanihan To Heal As One Act.

DSWD would like to thank the LSWDOs who have been acting on behalf of the Department at the barangay level for the SAP of the government for COVID-19.  DSWD asks for our countrymen’s patience, understanding and cooperation at the barangay. We believe that your C/MSWDOs are in the best position to determine the poorest households coming from the informal sector who should benefit from this SAP.

Thank you as well to our SAP frontliners from the LGUs and from the DSWD Central and Field Offices for their courage and commitment to bring the much needed services to those who need it the most.

Thank you to the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) headed by Secretary Eduardo M Año, all mayors of the cities and municipalities nationwide and their staff down to the barangay councils, the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) for ensuring a safe and swift distribution of the SAP.

Our deepest gratitude to our DSWD SAP beneficiary-family heroes whose stories we share. For those families whose generosity has not reached us at the regional level or in the field offices, we thank you and pray that God and Allah protect all 18 million household-SAP beneficiaries throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

[] In Penarrubia, Abra, CAR – One Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) cluster in Barangay Patiao, led by Parent Leader Dorothy Marcos Magahin, used their funds to help their  non-4Ps neighbors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic by dipping into their families’ emergency subsidies to purchase grocery items, including but not limited to canned goods, biscuits, and instant coffee, which they repacked and distributed to more than 35 non-4Ps families.

[] In Tuba, Benguet, CAR – 4Ps families pooled their social amelioration grant to aid 25 needy constituents in Barangay Tabaan Sur. Twenty five food packs are now ready for distribution.

[] In Brooke’s Point, Palawan, MIMAROPA – Before the intended distribution of the emergency subsidy in their area, Messrs Precido Francisco, Negleto Abuang, Ernesto Bodesa, Elcy Badua, Leovigildo Merced, and Avelino Sabuya returned their SAP forms to the LGU and informed the DSWD that they received assistance from the Department of Agriculture (DA). ###