MANILA – The Department of Social welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday urged the public to observe and participate in the National Women’s Month celebration this March, in recognition of the significant contributions of the women sector in nation building.
As part of the DSWD’s call for public support, the DSWD said it will be launching a digital advocacy campaign featuring the rights of women, supportive laws on women empowerment, including information on programs and services that are available to women, according to an agency press release.
The Department will also feature a collection of gender and development (GAD) knowledge products at its Knowledge Exchange Center (KEC) for the whole duration of the celebration. The knowledge products may be accessed by visitors and all personnel of the Department at the KEC.
Meanwhile, other advocacy activities initiated by the DSWD in support of gender equality also include the establishment of anti-Violence Against Women and Children’s (VAWC) desks in Robinson’s Novaliches and Ever Gotesco, Commonwealth, both in Quezon City, from March 13 to 24.
The anti-VAWC desks will be handled by social workers to provide appropriate information on anti-VAWC laws and interventions in case there are victims who would want to report their experiences.
Aside from joining the nation in raising public awareness, the DSWD will also be holding a series of activities to impress upon its employees the importance of championing women’s rights as part of the Department’s strengthened GAD campaign.
And in support to the Philippine Commission on Women’s (PCW) campaign, the DSWD declared every Wednesday as “Purple” day in the Department, the globally recognized color of the month-long celebration.
The DSWD will also acknowledges and supports the use of the hashtag #WecanbeEquaLL in all its activities.
Other activities being initiated by the DSWD in celebration of National Women’s Month is the hosting of the open conversation on GAD; the conduct of GAD webinars; GAD Webinars; and trivia games and similar simple, yet informative activities on gender equality and empowerment of women to raise awareness among employees.
As the month-long celebration of the National Women’s Month has already commenced, the Department encourages the public to observe and participate.
Fake text messages, social media posts on social pension for seniors
Meanwhile, the DSWD reiterated its public warning against spam text messages and social media posts saying that ‘all’ senior citizens will receive a monthly pension worth PHP1,000 from the National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) starting in March 2023, when they register online.”
In a separate release, the DSWD informed the public that ‘registration’ is not required to become beneficiaries of the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, and the DSWD has no schedule yet for the release of the additional PHP 500 since the budget is not yet available.
The Department further appealed to the public to remain vigilant and to refrain from entertaining text messages from unknown individuals and sharing unverified social media content to avoid confusion as the NCSC clarified that the said message did not emanate from the Commission and that its content is untruthful.
The DSWD also clarified that the distribution of the monthly Social Pension stipend of PHP500 for indigent senior citizens is still being implemented by the Department, pending the full transfer of the Social Pension program to the NCSC.
Meanwhile the increase of PHP500 monthly stipend will be implemented as soon as the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) releases the funds to the DSWD for the said provision, under Republic Act 11916.
The Department emphasized that while the Act increasing the social pension stipend for seniors has already been passed, this still needs funding for its full implementation.
The DSWD through its Regional Offices and Local Government Units will provide information to the public, particularly to senior citizens, once the budget for the additional PHP500 social pension will be released to the DSWD.
RA 11350, the Act creating and establishing the NCSC, provides that all functions, and activities, including the corresponding funds implemented by the DSWD for the poor, vulnerable, and disadvantaged seniors shall be transferred to the Commission.
During transition, the Department will continue to assist the NCSC to ensure that appropriate services and interventions are provided to older persons. (PNA)
