The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday, Jan. 12, marked its 73rd anniversary with highlights showcasing its significant achievements this year.

During the event, Secretary Rex Gatchalian outlined the agency's success in reducing poverty and addressing social issues.

"The DSWD has gone a long way in responding to the challenges of providing social protection to the poor, marginalized, and vulnerable sectors of society," the chief said.

He pointed out that the agency's role contributed to reducing poverty in the country from 23.7 percent in 2021 to 22.4 percent in 2023 and subsistence incidence from 9.9 percent to 8.7 percent.

On the other hand, Gatchalian reported several significant department accomplishments, including the exit of 674,452 household beneficiaries from the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).

Also, over 6.5 million clients were provided with the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.

Furthermore, he noted the record-breaking number of over 2 million family food packs were distributed to areas that were affected by disasters and calamities this year.

Oplan Pag-Abot also reached out to 1,772 families and individuals living on the streets in just six months.

The "Tara, Basa! Program" saw an "increase" in college student participation, with 80 percent of trained tutors actively engaged in literacy efforts --- this led to a 5.5 percent improvement in grade school reading proficiency across the country, according to a comprehensive rapid literacy assessment (CRLA).

In addition to that, this year, the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP) pilot implementation was launched.

The program provided beneficiaries who are struggling with food insecurity with P3,000 worth of monthly food credits through their electronic benefit transfer cards (EBT).

The FPS was implemented in Tondo, Manila, and Dapa, Siargao Island, and its full pilot implementation is set for 2024.

President Marcos Jr. then commended Secretary Gatchalian and the DSWD team for their remarkable accomplishments in 2023 and encouraged them to continue their approach in 2024.

"I am very, very happy again to be here in DSWD where heroes walk and work – heroes and angels walk and work. For that is how I view, with great admiration, the working men and women of your agency," the President said.

"More than that, here is the place, the headquarters of our war against poverty. It is the command center of the DSWD's disaster response, the mission control of our community development drive, and the compassion central that dispenses help to the needy," he added.

Secretary Gatchalian also guaranteed that the DSWD is prepared to lead the provision of social welfare and development programs this year.

"As we go on our 74th anniversary, you can rest assured that the Department will continue to strive to not only be the lead provider of social protection but to make sure that our Department is the incubator of innovations in social protection," he said.