Secretary Rex Gatchalian of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday met with British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils with a view to strengthening bilateral relations and discuss possible partnership in capacitating the social welfare workforce, as well as combatting hunger in the Philippines.
During the British envoy’s courtesy visit at Gatchalian’s office in Quezon City, the secretary briefed Beaufils and her delegation on DSWD’s initiatives to retool its workforce and mitigate hunger in the country.
As part of its plans to further equip and train the social welfare workers and other service providers offering and implementing social protection packages, the DSWD aims to revitalize its Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) as an academy for social workers and those involved in social welfare programs.
Through the academy, Gatchalian said “the DSWD will provide certificate programs and short courses on various fields like social protection and disaster preparedness, among others to further improve the provision of social welfare programs to the poor and the vulnerable sectors.”
In addressing hunger in the country, Gatchalian tackled the DSWD’s plans to implement and provide digital food stamps that may be used by its recipients to buy goods in grocery stores and supermarkets.
In response to the Secretary, the British envoy vowed to share the British government’s curriculum and other materials that may be used by the DSWD for its academy.
The British envoy also expressed her government’s commitment “to provide technical assistance in the provision of digital food stamps for poor Filipinos.”
Gatchalian continues to strengthen the DSWD’s relationship with international governments that will contribute to the Department’s fight against hunger and improvement in the delivery of quality services to the public.
He said this was in line with a directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to provide immediate assistance to indigent Filipinos.