MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Tuesday joined the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in celebrating its 74th anniversary at the SMX Convention Center, where the agency unveiled a new rights-based, family-oriented, and inclusive development model called “Pamilya sa Bagong Pilipinas.”
The Pamilya sa Bagong Pilipinas model emphasizes various transitions in family life across different stages, integrating economic, social, and cultural support to help Filipino families grow and thrive while addressing their diverse needs and goals.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is joined by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (partly covered), DSWD Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto-Rubiano, and other officials. (RTVM)
It is grounded in the administration’s commitment to enhancing the well-being and resilience of Filipino families.
As part of this initiative, the DSWD launched the Pamilya sa Bagong Pilipinas Compendium, a collection that highlights various programs and services based on family life transitions and the life cycle approach.
“The compendium will prioritize family welfare, support family-friendly policies, and promote programs that reinforce family bonds and relationships,” said DSWD Undersecretary for International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies Emmeline Aglipay-Villar.
In line with the President’s directive to digitalize the department, the DSWD also launched the “Harmonized Electronic Licensing and Permit System” or HELPS, which streamlines the process of registration, licensing, accreditation, public solicitation, and duty-exempt importation of donations from six months to just seven days.
“When it comes to serving the public, the DSWD remains as committed, and even a better organization than it was when you began,” President Marcos said. “You have provided not just assistance, but also hope to families rising from hardship, communities devastated by calamities, and individuals who need to feel that the government is by their side.”
The President also highlighted the success of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which has helped improve the health and education of millions of Filipino families through conditional cash grants.
“This program reflects a fundamental belief that education and health are investments in the future,” the President said. “Through conditional cash grants, we help families stay on track with their children’s education and health care, laying a sturdier foundation for a better life.”
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian also announced the launch of the Minors Traveling Abroad (MTA) Online Portal, an automated system that makes it convenient for minors to obtain travel clearances without the physical presence of their parents or legal guardians.
“Today, we are taking the DSWD to the digital age,” Gatchalian said. “We have streamlined our processes and made our services more accessible to the public.”
The 74th anniversary celebration underscores the DSWD’s commitment to modernizing its operations and enhancing its capacity to serve the Filipino people effectively. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
