AGUSAN DEL NORTE, Philippines (Eagle News) — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary, Judy Marigomen Taguiwalo strolled around the rural areas of Butuan, Agusan del Norte on Wednesday, December 14, to check the condition of Filipino families who are beneficiaries of the government’s Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Accompanied by DSWD Caraga Regional Director Minda Brigoli and some other staff, they visited the indigenous families who were part of the 4.4 million beneficiaries of this government program.
They surveyed their homes, assessing their situations and basic needs, so the department can address their problems with immediate solutions in a fast and effective way.
“As a public official who serves the community, it is important to go down to the level of general public, especially the poor families. Rather than staying all-day long in the office, waiting for my staff to send the reports,” Taguiwalo said.
Taguiwalo and Brigoli were greeted with a warm welcome by the families in Butuan. Some of the household members they visited and surveyed were even not aware that they were already talking to the DSWD secretary.
“Wala ho kasi kaming telebisyon dito sa amin” (We don’t have a television in our home), one of the beneficiaries said.
They also witnessed with their own eyes the situation of some houses in the community. Some are already weak and brittle and some are not safe to step on because the floor is already broken.
Photos are courtesy of the DSWD Sec. Judy M. Taguiwalo Facebook page.