MANILA, Aug. 9 –The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with other key agencies, will lead inter-agency Serbisyo Caravan on “Edukasyon, Kalusugan at Proteksyon” on Saturday 12 at Commonwealth Elementary School in Quezon City.
The activity will highlight pro-poor activities of Duterte Administration, through the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO), and from the different agencies under the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC) such as Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH), National Youth Commission (NYC), and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC).
DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo, who chairs the HDPR Cluster, said the initiative aimed to bring the government closer to the people, and to make government programs and services more accessible to them.
The Serbisyo Caravan carries the theme Edukasyon, Kalusugan, at Proteksyon.
“This is an opportunity for heads of agencies to communicate with the community members and discuss the programs and services available to them under the leadership of President Duterte,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.
Taguiwalo added that part of the activity would focus on head of clusters, which report to the communities their accomplishments and present some of the programs and services to the poor in order to raise the quality of the latter’s lives.
At the same time, the activity, through the forum. will also give opportunity for a “conversation” to the community so that the cabinet leaders can also hear and listen from the sides of the community in terms of how the services and response can be better enhance or be more pro-poor, what else should be done and how can it be done and be fitting to the real needs of the people as the country aims for sustainable development wherein no one will be left behind.
“This is for the Filipino people. All of these activities were in line with Duterte’s commitment to lead a government which proves genuine compassion for the Filipinos, especially for the poor,” she added.
Part of the caravan will provide medical and dental mission through the healthworkers from DOH since President Duterte’s marching order was to take of the poor and prioritized them in the health system.
DepEd will put up an inquiry desk on its voucher program, Alternative Learning System, and K-12 program while CHED will present its current scholarship program for college students.
TESDA will bring its online registration system for those who want to enroll in available vocational courses and skills training. TESDA beneficiaries will also provide free haircuts and massage therapy for the community members that will come and participate in the forum.
For its part, DSWD will showcase its Libreng Gamot Program; Rice Subsidy; Social Pension; services for persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents; and, Livelihood Program to familiarize the poor and know how can they avail them or ther equirements needed.
The healthworkers and staffs will also distribute information materials on how to avail of senior citizen/ solo parent/and PWD identification cards.
Aside from heads of agencies mentioned, also expected to come in the caravan were QC mayor Herbert M. Bautista and Department of Budget and Management Secretary Benjamin Diokno.(PNA)
