DSWD bats for stronger gov’t-private sector collab
THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) called for stronger collaboration between government and private sector on various programs that will help improve the lives of the Filipinos.
Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian made this call during the 2023 CSR Guild Awards, to which he encouraged member-companies of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) to unite and work with the government.
In his keynote address, the DSWD chief explained to the members of the LCF that nation-building is not always about providing material things, but also offering intangible ones.
“The best type of nation-building is if we all put our hands together and devote time, and get out of our comfort zones, and try to make a difference,” Gatchalian said.
“In nation-building it does not always equate to the amount of money you give. Nation-building is about the amount of love, extra love, and extra care that you put into the endeavor,” he added.
The LCF is composed of private corporations and foundations that promotes and enhances the strategic practice of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) among its members and the larger business community towards sustained national development.
A highlight of Gatchalian’s speech was the presentation of the WALANG GUTOM 2027: Food Provision through Strategic Transfer and Alternative Measures Program (Food STAMP Program), one of DSWD’s new priority programs personally approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Gatchalian encouraged the members of the LCF to support the program by becoming partners of the DSWD to change the social behavior of would-be beneficiaries of the program by offering nutrition development classes and promoting healthy food options so that they can become healthy consumers.
“We need the private sector to end hunger,” the DSWD chief stressed.
Gatchalian also gave emphasis on the Department’s current retooling of its programs and services, including the registration, licensing, and accreditation process for public and private Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs).
Gatchalian also commended the LCF members for their contribution to nation-building.
The CSR Guild Awards is an annual event that recognizes the outstanding CSR projects and collaborations of LCF members to bring sustainable impacts to poor communities, and in various areas of endeavor such as culture and the arts, environment, disaster resilience, health, education, enterprise development, and financial inclusivity, among others.
