MANILA: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has announced notable progress in its efforts to enhance the well-being of impoverished families across the Philippines in 2024, attributing these improvements to its comprehensive social protection and human capital development initiatives.
According to Philippines News Agency, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao emphasized in a report that the DSWD's programs have significantly bolstered the economic and social conditions of disadvantaged Filipino families. A key component of this strategy is the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), which was established in 2008 and institutionalized in 2019 through Republic Act No. 11310. This program invests in the health and education of vulnerable households, aiming to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty. Currently, the 4Ps serves over 4.2 million active households, backed by more than PHP77 billion in program funds from January to November 2024.
The program's success is evident, with over 30,000 former monitored children completing tertiary education between 2016 and April 30, 2024. Many of these graduates achieved honors and excelled in various licensure examinations. Furthermore, the DSWD's Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) supported approximately 67,307 households through different modalities, providing capacity-building opportunities that enhance the productivity of livelihood assets in poor and marginalized communities.
The SLP offers two main tracks: micro-enterprise development, which helps microenterprises achieve economic viability, and employment facilitation, which aids Filipinos in accessing suitable employment opportunities. Another critical initiative is the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), which received additional financing through a World Bank loan to mitigate the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and recent disasters. In 2024, this program assisted more than 1.6 million households across 14 regions in the Philippines, utilizing a community-driven development strategy that empowers communities to make decisions and manage resources.
The KALAHI-CIDSS also implements the Kapangyarihan at Kaunlaran sa Barangay Cash-for-Work (CFW) program, providing cash support for community work rendered by beneficiaries affected by disasters. As of November 2024, the program completed 24 sub-projects and extended assistance to 32,499 persons with disabilities and 3,659 families with college students or new graduates.
As the DSWD looks ahead to 2025, Dumlao reaffirmed the department's commitment to strengthening its programs, ensuring that vulnerable communities have access to adaptive and inclusive social welfare initiatives.
