DSWD to open 'clustered sites' to ease long lines for assistance requests at central office

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is eyeing to open "clustered sites" in the coming days to solve the problem of long queue of people seeking assistance in its central office. 

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB on Thursday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said they are eyeing to occupy basketball courts, cinema houses, and other multipurpose facilities near its central office.

“Hindi kasi safe at hindi maayos na sa kalsada sila nakapila. So ang gagawin natin, ililipat natin sila kung saan nakaupo sila,” he said.

(Because it’s not safe that they are lining up on the road. So we will move them where they can sit.)

Meanwhile, Gatchalian said they are also implementing a numbering system where those who do not reach the cut-off are given a number for the succeeding days.

Asked about the supposed failure of the agency to hand out numbers, Gatchalian said this was because they had also reached the quota for the succeeding days.

“Ang nangyayari, na e-exhaust namin ‘yung quota for tomorrow and the next day na… nabigay na namin ‘yung number for the succeeding days,” Gatchalian explained.

(What happened was we exhausted our quota for tomorrow and the next day… we already gave out the numbers for the succeeding days.)

Gatchalian said they are now working on possible improvements in the numbering system. 

“Give us some time for that... Kasi nga we can only process 700 at any given time,” he said.

The secretary also clarified that those lining up are seeking burial, medical, and educational assistance.

He also urged the public to visit field offices instead of traveling to the central office. That's as Gatchalian said they are also seeking to establish satellite offices within 45 to 60 days.

He said the DSWD is planning to put up payout centers in Camanava, the Muntinlupa area, Pasig, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Marikina, Manila, and Quezon City.

Further, he said the DSWD is also seeking to launch a "chatbot" for messenger and a digital portal where beneficiaries can upload requests in the coming months.

“We’re coming with a chatbot, parang nakikita niyo sa mga kumpanya, kung saan yung mga paulit ulit na tanong masasagot na lang doon... We’re also working on a digital portal kung saan pwede nila siguro i-upload yung mga requirements and yung mga request for financial assistance. And then we’ll send it back to you either through digital forms like GCash or Paymaya,” he said. 

(We plan to have a chatbot which is often seen in companies where the usual questions can already be answered. We're also working on a digital portal where they can upload their requirements and their request for financial assistance.) — Joahna Lei Casilao/ VAL, GMA Integrated News