Manila: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday received strong support from senators during the organizational meeting of the Senate's Proactive Response and Oversight for Timely and Effective Crisis Strategy (PROTECT) Committee that discussed the government's response to the ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.
According to Philippines News Agency, the Senate hearing highlighted the government's unified and data-driven approach to mitigating the socio-economic impact of global tensions, with the DSWD represented by Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Undersecretary Adonis Sulit of the Policy and Planning Group (PPG).
Sen. Loren Legarda commended Gatchalian's hands-on leadership in crisis response, including the swift provision of cash relief assistance for drivers of public utility vehicles which is one of the most affected sectors by the rising prices of petroleum products. 'Sec. Rex is the only Cabinet member. he's quick, he's on the ground, he knows what's happening. I wish everybody could emulate that,' Legarda said.
Responding to queries from Sen. Bam Aquino, the DSWD chief assured the Senate that all eligible tricycle drivers nationwide will receive assistance, following the initial rollout in the National Capital Region, in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. 'Lahat sila sa hanay ng tricycle drivers ay makakatanggap ng assistance. At ang instruction sa amin ng Pangulo (All of them in the ranks of tricycle drivers will receive assistance. The instruction to us by the President) is to make sure that it's not just one time, that we sync our efforts with the economic team during the succeeding ones,' Gatchalian told senators.
He also emphasized that the cash relief payout remains both sustainable and scalable, with preparations underway to expand payouts outside Metro Manila in coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and local government units (LGUs). 'As we speak right now, we are already collating the outside of Metro Manila list. The LTFRB is due to submit to us the other TNVS (Transportation Network Vehicle Services) list by tomorrow. The local government units are to submit to us their TODA (Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association) drivers by Thursday. Right after the Holy Week, we will commence with the same [payout] operations outside Metro Manila,' he said.
Gatchalian also assured senators of sufficient funding to sustain multiple rounds of cash relief assistance, citing the PHP60-billion budget under the DSWD's Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program. The DSWD, in coordination with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), also committed to covering all transport modalities in the rollout of assistance, either through AICS or the DOTr's fuel subsidy program.
DOTr Secretary Giovanni 'Banoy' Lopez likewise proposed the inclusion of public utility vehicle (PUV) conductors in the DSWD's list of beneficiaries. Aquino, for his part, lauded the government agencies' proactive and coordinated approach. 'Honestly, sa mga Gabinete, ito yung hinahanap natin na ano ba yung plano, ano ba yung target, ano ba yung mahahabol natin (to all Cabinet members, this is what we are looking for, like what is the plan, what is the target, what can we get),' Aquino said.
