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Barzaga gives 'honest opinion' on new DSWD chief Gatchalian

Philippines | National

Barzaga gives 'honest opinion' on new DSWD chief Gatchalian

By Ellson Quismorio

Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. gave this "honest opinion" Wednesday, Feb. 1 regarding his erstwhile House of Representatives colleague from Valenzuela City's 1st district.

Cavite 4th district Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr. (left) and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian (Facebook)

"President Marcos made a great choice in appointing Valenzuela Rep. Rex Gatchalian as secretary of social welfare and development because of his sterling record both as a local chief executive and a lawmaker," Barzaga said in a statement.

"Being a three-time mayor of Valenzuela City, his personal touch in attending to the needs of his constituents will be invaluable as he takes the helm of the ," he said of Gatchalian.

"I know his competence and capacity as a public servant and more importantly, I know that he has a heart for the poor," added Barzaga, who is himself a former Dasmariñas City mayor.

He further said that Gatchalian "is a perfect fit for the role because he personally knows and has seen the problems of his poor constituents who are in need of medical assistance, livelihood and other basic services".

"It is therefore my honest opinion that our friend and colleague will succeed as Social Welfare Secretary not only because of his credentials but because of his genuine desire to serve the poor and uplift their lives,"

Barzaga said that, as a Valenzuela City mayor, one of Gatchalian’s programs was the Barangay-Based Feeding Program (BBFP). It provided malnourished children free supply of nutritious, ready-to-cook food.

"They also had the Kitchen-on-Wheels program which is the mobile kitchen used by the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO) to immediately deliver meals for typhoon victims or disaster-stricken communities," the Cavite solon noted.

Related Tags

Rex Gatchalian elpidio Barzaga jr. honest opinion DSWD 20123

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