Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian recently led the turnover of farming carabaos and livelihood grants to beneficiaries of the Oplan Pag-Abot Program in Barangay Maruglu, Capas, Tarlac.
The 50 beneficiaries were members of the Aeta community. On Thursday, 30 May 2024, each beneficiary was given one carabao and a grant of PHP 10,000 — both of which can be used for farming as their source of livelihood.
DSWD Chief Leads Turnover of Carabaos, Livelihood Grants
Notably, the Aeta beneficiaries were among the people reached out by the DSWD in Manila during the roll-out of the department’s “Pag-Abot sa Pasko” last December 2023, a DSWD press release stated.
According to Secretary Gatchalian, the DSWD shall continue to provide programs and services to beneficiaries, in line with the directives of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr.
“Ayaw namin na mararamdaman niyo na malayo kami kasi ang utos ng Pangulo: Ang mga ahensya ng pamahalaan hanggang sa kasuluk-sulukan na lugar sa Pilipinas ay nararamdaman at nakikita ng bawat Pilipino (We don’t want you to feel that we are far from you, because the President ordered: Even in remote areas, government agencies must be seen and felt by every Filipino),” the DSWD Secretary explained.
Also present at the event were DSWD Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay, Special Assistant Secretary (SAS) for Innovations Marcelo Nicomedes Castillo, Social Technology Bureau (STB) Assistant Director Marilyn Moral, and DSWD Field Office III (Central Luzon) Assistant Regional Director for Operations (ARDO) Armont C. Pecina.
Likewise, Tarlac Provincial Governor Susan Yap and Capas Municipal Mayor Roseller B. Rodriguez witnessed the turnover of farming carabaos to the Aeta community.
Meanwhile, in a separate turnover ceremony, 12 members of the Aeta community in Bamban, Tarlac were also provided the same interventions by the DSWD.
About the Pag-Abot Program
DSWD’s Pag-Abot Program is an initiative that extends assistance to vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, children, and families in street situations. Issued under Executive Order (EO) 52 and signed by President Marcos, the program is comprised of nine assistance packages, as follows:
- Financial assistance;
- Psychosocial support;
- Livelihood assistance;
- Community assistance;
- Employment assistance;
- Transitory shelter assistance;
- Capability building of communities;
- Transportation or relocation assistance; and
- Capacity building of local government units (LGUs).
If you want to know more about the program, you can follow the DSWD Oplan Pag-Abot Facebook Page. You can also contact them by calling 02-8931-9141 or by sending an email to oplanpagabot@dswd.gov.ph.
Final Thoughts
Thanks to the DSWD’s Oplan Pag-Abot Program, the Aeta community in Capas, Tarlac are given the opportunity to boost their livelihood. And speaking of livelihood, check out this article to learn more about the department’s Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).