Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian led his agency's Pag-abot program operations in Quezon City early morning on Friday despite handing out his courtesy resignation the day before.

Gatchalian assured the public that DSWD services will continue seamlessly despite his courtesy resignation. This, after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asked his entire cabinet to resign after disappointing results for his party in the Philippine midterm elections.

"Walang services na maaantala, lahat kami ay required na nandoon pa rin sa aming mga posts, hanggang makapagdesisyon ang Malacanang sa aming courtesy resignation," he said.

(No services will be halted. We are all required to stay in our posts until they get to decide on our courtesy resignation.)

The DSWD has several programs that responds to needs of the poor and marginalized communities, such as the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations, and the Ayuda sa mga Kapos ang Kita Program.

They are also the main implementors of the Walang Gutom Kitchen, Food Stamp, Tara Basa, and the flagship anti-poverty "Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program" or 4Ps.

13 HOMELESS FAMILIES

DSWD reached out and convinced 13 homeless families and 9 individuals to join their team for profiling and assistance.

The homeless families were brought to the DSWD processing center in Pasay City where they will be given food, medicine, and temporary shelter.

Under the program, homeless families will either be given livelihood assistance or sent back to their home provinces, depending on their specific needs.

"Sabi ng Pangulo, 'yung pinaka nasa laylayan or 'yung pinakahirap sa buhay, 'yun dapat ang inuuna namin. Ito na 'yung pinakamahirap sa mga mahirap, mga napilitan tumira sa lansangan kasi walang hanapbuhay," Gatchalian said.

(The President said that DSWD should prioritize the poorest. Here, we saw the poorest of the poor, who were forced to live in streets because they have no livelihood.)

Gatchalian said the President ordered that no families shall remain homeless by the end of his term.

Of the estimated 10,000 homeless families in Metro Manila, half has already been convinced to undergo the program.

"Wala namang isang solusyon na babagay at aangkop sa lahat, customized yung solusyon natin sa bawat pamilya, importante yung makapagsimula ulit," Gatchalian said.

(There is no one solution to all families. We customize our assistance to each families. What is important is they get to start again.)

"Wala naman tayong layunin na tumira sila sa shelter pang habambuhay, ang sa atin, maunawaan ang ating pangangailangan at maibalik sila sa komunidad na kasama ang tulong ng DSWD," he added.

(We do not aim to keep them in our shelters forever. We just need to understand their needs and bring them back to the community with our assistance.)