The experience of incoming Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian as Valenzuela City mayor will be an asset for the new DSWD chief, who was appointed on Tuesday by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.
House Committee on Human Rights Chair and Manila 6th District Rep. Benny Abante Jr. on Wednesday said “former Rep. Gatchalian’s nine years as a local chief executive will serve him well in the DSWD.”
Under the stewardship of Gatchalian, Valenzuela City was awarded citations for programs involving livability and disaster preparedness, employment and micro-entrepreneurship development, health and social protection, and peace and order.
“Aside from an excellent track record as Valenzuela mayor,” said the lawmaker, “our former colleague has firsthand experience working on the ground, and is familiar with the concerns and challenges involved in implementing national social protection programs that target the poor, vulnerable, and the disadvantaged, such as the 4Ps.”
The legislator also pointed out that “as a believer in the Bible, Sec. Gatchalian has demonstrated compassionate leadership, which is evident in his concern for the underprivileged, as shown in his programs in Valenzuela.”
Gatchalian, Chair of the House Committee on Local Government in the 19th Congress, served three terms as Valenzuela Mayor. Under the stewardship of Gatchalian, Valenzuela City was awarded citations for programs involving livability and disaster preparedness, employment and micro-entrepreneurship development, health and social protection, and peace and order.
Among the programs implemented by Gatchalian were a Barangay-Based Feeding Program, which provided free, nutritious, ready-to-cook food for malnourished children aged six months to five years, provided that their parents regularly bring them to barangay health stations for weighing, check-up and vaccination.
The city also had a Kitchen-on-Wheels program, a mobile kitchen used by the City Social Welfare and Development Office to immediately transport meals for typhoon victims or disaster-stricken communities.
“It is this kind of experience that the DSWD secretary needs,” stressed Abante.
The lawmaker explained that “his understanding of local government dynamics and the considerations in the frontlines will help him address the implementation gaps in the agency’s many programs, which require coordination with local governments.”
“I wish Sec. Gatchalian well on his new appointment, and have no doubt that he will be able to lead the DSWD with competence, integrity, and humility.”
