SECRETARY ANDANAR COMMENDS PANDEMIC, ANTI-INSURGENCY RESPONSE OF DSWD-10

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar, also the designated Cabinet Officer for Regional Development and Security (CORDS) for Region 10, lauded the proactive efforts of the regional office of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD10) amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I would like to commend you for stepping up and assuring our local government units diri sa Region 10 nga dunay assistance nga gi-andam ang inyong buhatan para kanila karung pandemya. You are doing an excellent job [I would like to commend you for stepping up and assuring our local government units here in Region 10 that assistance is ready for them this time of pandemic. You are doing an excellent job],” Secretary Andanar said during the CORDS X Podcast on Saturday.

DSWD-10 Regional Director Mari-FLor Dollaga-Libang was a guest during the program, where he discussed the various programs and projects implemented

by the agency as the COVID-19 pandemic persists.

According to Dir. Libang, the agency is closely coordinating with the city governments of Cagayan de Oro and Gingoog for additional assistance that they can offer to the two cities that are now under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).

The agency already requested from their Central Office for the augmentation of family food packs (FFP) of over 160,000 for Cagayan de Oro City and over 40,000 FFP for Gingoog City.

Aside from the said request, Dir. Libang said that the DSWD has already distributed 25,000 FFP to Gingoog City and 5,000 for Cagayan de Oro City.

“Naninguha gyud mi, sir, nga makahatag mi og family food packs ug financial assistance sa atong mga kaigsoonan [We really are working hard in order to provide family food packs and financial assistance to the people],” she said.

Along with these are other social services they continue to provide to other areas, including the continued implementation of cash assistance for families under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Social Pension Program, Sustainable Livelihood Program, Supplementary Feeding Program, and the Kalahi-CIDDS.

“Since the start of the pandemic walay puas ang paghatag og ayuda sa DSWD kay dili man gyud na ikalimod nga tanan ang apektado karun mahitungod sa epekto sa COVID [Since the start of the pandemic, the DSWD has been continuously providing assistance. It is undeniable that all of us are affected by the effects brought by COVID-19],” she said.

“Kami sa DSWD10 kanunay nga maningkamot nga makaabag sa panginahanglan sa atong mga kaigsoonan nga naapektuhan niining nagkalain-laing kalisod, labi na ang kalisod nga dala sa COVID-19 [We, in DSWD-10, will continue to provide for the need of the people who are affected by calamities and crisis, especially this pandemic ],” she added.

DSWD supports EO 70

Dir. Libang also expressed the agency’s support in promoting a more peaceful and developed Region 10 through the implementation of the landmark policy of President Rodrigo Duterte which is the Executive Order No. 70.

In fact, they have already assisted over 36,000 individuals in the region’s Convergence Area for Peace and Development (CAPDev) for 2020 alone. Over 1,300 former rebels also received financial assistance of more than P12,000 each, and other food and non-food items.

Dir. Libang also pointed out the institutionalization of the Malasakit Centers as a legacy of the current administration, noting that it has helped unburden indigent patients with their medical bills.

Region 10 has Malasakit Centers located in strategic areas. These include the Northern Mindanao Medical Center and JR Borja General Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City; Bukidnon Provincial Hospital in Maramag, Bukidnon; Kapatagan Provincial Hospital in Lanao del Norte; and Gregorio Lluch Memorial Hospital in Iligan City.

“Kini nga mga hospital, adunay kitay mga nakastandby nga mga social workers gikan sa field office 10 ng DSWD nga pwedeng mamahimong dalampanganan sa atong mga naglisod nga kaigsoonan [We have on standby social workers in these hospitals that the people can turn to in times of crisis],” Dir. Libang said.