Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Romel Lopez said the agency is prepared to take the necessary steps to expand and institutionalize reach-out operations for children, individuals, and families living on the streets.

The DSWD welcomed Executive Order (EO) No. 52, issued by Malacañang, which institutionalizes and expands the agency’s “Oplan Pag-Abot” program, aimed at reaching out to families, children, and individuals in street situations and providing necessary interventions.

“We, at the DSWD, are pleased to be the lead agency of this program to ensure the effective delivery of services to disadvantaged and vulnerable individuals living in the streets,” Lopez said on Saturday, Jan. 20.

“We also thank President Marcos for recognizing the significance of this initiative pioneered by DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian by institutionalizing it through EO 52,” he added.

EO No. 52, which was signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on Jan. 18, calls for the formation of an Inter-Agency Committee (IAC) for Oplan Pag-Abot, which aims to improve and standardize the provision of social safety nets to underprivileged and vulnerable groups living on the streets.

“With this EO, we are assured that the current efforts of the DSWD’s Pag-Abot Team are complemented with various services and assistance packages to be provided by the member and concerned agencies,” Lopez said.

The DSWD Secretary will serve as the chair of the IAC, while the Department of the Interior and Local Government Secretary will be the vice chair.

Members of the committee include the respective secretaries of the agriculture, labor, health, budget, and education departments; director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; chairperson of the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor; the president and chief executive officer of the Small Business Corp.; and the administrator of the Cooperative Development Authority.

The IAC is required to engage and consult the local government units and other government agencies in policy formulation and program implementation, as well as coordinate and seek support from the private sector, relevant stakeholders, advocacy groups, and non-government organizations.

“The Inter-Agency Committee shall develop an integrated monitoring framework and a digital monitoring system containing a database of verified individual, family and community beneficiaries, which shall measure and capture all developed deliverable areas and indicators. The Inter-Agency Committee shall also come up with a comprehensive and integrated sustainability plan,” the EO read.

The IAC is also tasked with developing a strategic communication plan to educate the people and advocate for supportive policies at the local level, in coordination with the Presidential Communications Office.

Oplan Pag-Abot was launced in July 2023 as a priority program of Gatchalian to assist people living and staying on the streets and give them access to opportunities for social and economic advancement and fulfillment of their fundamental rights.