The House of Representatives heaped high praises on the Department of Social Welfare and Development personnel nationwide, with Appropriations Committee Chairman Representative Zaldy Co referring to them as “angels in red vest” and expressed “full support” for the DSWD programs and projects.
“DSWD is always at the forefront of bringing support and services to our countrymen, who are in dire poverty, the poorest of the poor. The DSWD, through its personnel, is also known by our kababayans as the ‘angels in red vest’. They play an important role in the delivery of social protection programs of the government,” Co said.
“The allocation is higher by 7.3 percent than the 2022 allocation of P107.7 billion.”
“We commend the President in increasing the support for this (4Ps) program in 2023, in the amount of P115.6 billion, targeting 4.4 million households. The allocation is higher by 7.3 percent than the 2022 allocation of P107.7 billion,” the AKO BICOL Party-list legislator also said.
The lawmaker noted that the 4Ps in 2021 served 4.37 million household beneficiaries through the provision of cash grants, thereby keeping children of poor families healthy and in school.
“Ang malabis na kahirapan, malnutrisyon at kawalan ng oportunidad at edukasyon ay hindi na dapat maranasan ng mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga Filipino.”
“Ang malabis na kahirapan, malnutrisyon at kawalan ng oportunidad at edukasyon ay hindi na dapat maranasan ng mga susunod na henerasyon ng mga Filipino,” he stressed.
“This program does not only save people from extreme hunger but also provides an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty by improving their health, nutrition, and education,” Co added.
He also noted how in 2021, “around 700,000 households benefited from the disaster response program, 209 thousand households received emergency shelter assistance and cash for work, and 429 LGUs with augmentation support”.
“In addition, 3.6 million individuals benefited from AICS (assistance to individuals in crisis situations), and 3.7 million senior citizens received social pensions,” Co explained.
