DSWD: 4-day work week, other measures to protect private sector resources

The government has implemented flexible working arrangements in government offices and aid programs to protect the private sector’s resources amid the rising prices of fuel due to the conflict in the Middle East, Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian said on Wednesday.

In a Palace press briefing, Gatchalian noted that the government is now observing cost-saving measures to conserve energy and resources for the private sector.

He added that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) also has programs like the Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) to provide cash aid, rice subsidies, and other assistance to affected sectors.

“Kung titingnan ninyo iyong menu ng AICS namin, marami doon… Mayroon kami doon iyong papasok ka doon sa cash relief assistance, halimbawa, biglang naapektuhan na iyong trabaho mo, hindi ka na nakakapasok. These are welfare instruments that the DSWD can extend,” Gatchalian said.

(If you see the menu of our AICS, there’s a lot there… We have what would fall under cash relief assistance if our work becomes affected and you are unable to report to work. These are welfare instruments that the DSWD can extend.)

“Kung meron ang tatanggapin ng aming public transport sector, natural dapat yung tatanggap ng bigas iba naman. Kasi hindi naman pwedeng isang grupo at isang sektor na lang ang parating tumatanggap. So we can now determine who among our constituents will need the rice dahil covered na nga po yung ating public transport sector,” said San Juan City mayor Francis Zamora, president of the Metro Manila Council.

(If our public transport sector will be receiving something, it is natural that others will receive rice aid. It can’t be that only one group and one sector will always be the beneficiaries. We can now determine who among our constituents will need the rice because our public transport sector is already covered.)

Zamora also noted that the assistance may be provided repeatedly and not just as a one-time aid.

“Kung kinakailangan pa, depende sa sitwasyon kung hahaba pa ang crisis, maaari naman magkaroon ng second round na release ng subsidy… Malaking tulong po yan sa mga mamamayan para magamit pa natin ang ibang ating resources sa ibang pangailangan ng ating mga kababayan. And aside from that, meron din po kaming iba’t ibang proyekto pa na pinatutulong din namin sa mga kababayan,” he added.

(If need be, depending on the situation if the crisis will still extend, we can have a second round of release for subsidies… It is a big help for the public so we can continue to use our resources for the other needs of our citizens. Aside from that, we also have other projects that we also use to help our citizens.)

Meanwhile, Gatchalian reiterated that DSWD does not only provide assistance to the vulnerable or poor sectors.

“Misnomer yun eh na ang DSWD ay para sa mahihirap lamang, kundi ang DSWD ay para sa lahat na nangangailangan, lalong-lalo na sa oras ng pangangailangan… If you are facing crisis kahit na ngayon, mismo sa opisina namin. Kung mayroong iba’t ibang crisis na pinagdadaanan, any single citizen can come to any DSWD office at tutulungan na tutulungan natin sila,” he said.

(It is a misnomer that the DSWD only helps the poor, but the DSWD is for anyone who needs help, especially in times of crisis… If you are facing crisis even now, even in our offices. If you are encountering different crises, any single citizen can come to any DSWD office and we will help them.) — JMA, GMA Integrated News