The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has vowed to “constantly develop and re-engineer” its current mechanisms in providing social protection services to Filipinos, especially the vulnerable and poor sectors.

DSWD Secretary Rolando Joselito D. Bautista made this commitment during the Multi-Sector Governance Council (MSGC) meeting, as he thanked the Council members for helping out the agency in achieving its strategic initiatives.

“Considering the evolving social welfare and development needs of our people, the Department seeks to constantly develop and re-engineer its present mechanisms for its target clientele,” he said in his message.

“As the Department further enhances its capacities and ensures the alignment of efforts with its mandate, the performance governance system or PGS provided a platform which paved the way for the achievement of breakthrough results towards the attainment of the Department’s vision,” he added.

Bautista expressed the DSWD’s gratitude to the MSGC members, headed by Philippine Institute for Development Studies (PIDS) president Dr. Celia M. Reyes for sharing their expertise in helping them execute the agency’s strategy in delivering services to the poor.

“We hope that you continue to be our champions and partners in this shared goal of instituting development and uplifting the lives of the poor, vulnerable, marginalized, and disadvantaged Filipinos,” he said.

The MSGC is composed of external stakeholders from different sectors (advisers and partners), which monitors the agency’s performance as it works towards fulfilling its governance pathway for better public service.

The MSGC also assists the DSWD in effectively utilizing its resources and creating networks to keep its goals and objectives moving forward.

“As part of the Council’s commitment, the MSGC assisted DSWD in paving the way for the transition of devolving certain programs to the local government units to make it more responsive to the needs of the Filipinos at the community level,” the DSWD said.

It cited the significant role of the Council in the formulation of its projects and in the design of social technology projects, especially for children needing social protection.

The DSWD expressed commitment to address the issues of the children’s sector which recorded an increased vulnerability to abuse due to the stress caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID019) pandemic.

“With the DSWD and MSGC partnership, the experience in public service, the insights, and the expertise from decades of public service are brought together and made into strategies which would thrust the Department towards its vision of more efficient and relevant service delivery,” it said.