Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian met with British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils, on Monday, April 24, to strengthen existing ties and discuss possible cooperation opportunities in reinforcing the social welfare workforce and fight against hunger in the country.
During the courtesy visit of the British envoy, Gatchalian explained to Beaufils and her delegation the department’s initiatives to strengthen the skills of DSWD workers and to mitigate hunger in the Philippines.
The DSWD chief shared the department’s plan to revitalize the Social Welfare and Development Center for Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) as an academy for social workers and those involved in social welfare programs.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and British Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils (DSWD Photo)
Through the academy, the DSWD will provide certificate programs and short courses in various fields, such as social protection and disaster preparedness, to further improve the delivery of social welfare programs to the poor and vulnerable sectors.
To address hunger in the country, Gatchalian said the DSWD plans to implement and provide digital food stamps that recipients can use to purchase goods at grocery stores and supermarkets.
For her part, Beaufils promised to share the British government’s curriculum and other materials that the DSWD could use for its academy.
She also expressed her government’s commitment to provide technical assistance in providing digital food stamps for poor Filipinos.