DEPARTMENT of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has said he aims to enlist the assistance of the Catholic Church and its parishioners to bring the government’s social welfare programs closer to the people.
Gatchalian made the disclosure in his presentation at the Caritas Philippines’ National Social Action General Assembly (NASAGA) 2026 held Tuesday at The Mother Grace Convention Center in Tagaytay City.
“We want our development programs, our social welfare programs to be accessed by our church-goers. Because the church is also very grassroots. Everywhere, they know their communities, they know their patrons so we will establish and continue to establish linkages where they can refer,” Gatchalian said.
During the forum, Gatchalian said the DSWD was closely working with Caritas Philippines, led by executive director Fr. Carmelo Caluag, to establish a referral system through which parishioners can submit information about community members they deem to be in crisis or in need of immediate assistance.
Caritas Philippines is the social action arm of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines (CBCP).
“Caritas is already setting up a focal group from the side of the church that our social workers can talk to. So, directly from the churches into the system of the DSWD. And we welcome that, because it’s faster, more grassroots. I know, at your level you have already filtered, so when it comes to our social workers, we don’t need to check too much. What better referral than those coming from the church,” the DSWD chief pointed out.
Aside from the plan to establish linkages with dioceses, Secretary Gatchalian also highlighted the ongoing partnership of the DSWD with Caritas Philippines in helping the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable groups. Maricel V. Cruz
Among the ongoing partnerships that the DSWD chief mentioned were the provision of technical assistance in the values formation programs for residents of the DSWD’s centers and residential care facilities, the incorporation of the Caritas’ Self-Help Group in the family development sessions of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries, and the character-building sessions under the Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program.
Gatchalian also urged the NASAGA delegates to collaborate with government agencies to help more people in need.
“The order of our President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. is to work with the private sector, and that includes our churches. Let your DSWD regional offices be your conduits of your good works,” he said.
