In a bid to further enhance living conditions of Filipino in vulnerable communities, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian made rounds in several facilities.
Gatchalian initially went to the Reception and Study Center in Bago Bantay, Quezon City, where 29 children who are either orphans, abandoned, or abuse victims are housed, shortly after being named the new DSWD director.
Additionally, he went to housing facilities for the elderly, people with disabilities (PWD), women, and trafficking victims.
According to the newly appointed social welfare secretary, he paid the visits to “see and comprehend” the living situations of the nation’s marginalized groups and to make sure that the DSWD’s current facilities met their demands.
“Kapag magrerescue tayo, mahalaga na dapat yung pagdadalhan sa kanila ay maayos ang living conditions,” he said.
Gatchalian responded that they hope to continue to improve services when asked about the continuity of the DSWD’s frontline services following the significant shift in leadership.
He mentioned that the department is thinking about implementing artificial intelligence (AI) tools to streamline operations and improve the provision of DSWD services.
“Iyong digitalization favorite namin yan ngayon. Sa Valenzuela kasi, one of my last projects is to tap an AI bot to explain the processes. Mahirap kasi kung mamamasahe pa ang isang beneficiary tas pagdating kulang pala requirements,” he said.
Gatchalian said he targets to shorten lines in DSWD offices by establishing more satellite offices, particularly in the Camanava (Caloocan-Malabon-Navotas-Valenzuela) area, Quezon City, Marikina City, and Pasig City.
In order to enhance the service delivery of his department, he is also expected to meet with experts on poverty and hunger.
Professors from academic institutions and even organizations that could influence DSWD initiatives are among the experts, he continued.
