President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. aims to further strengthen the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pag-Abot Program by extending support to more Filipino families in need of social welfare protection.

President Marcos on Wednesday led the DSWD Pag-Abot Program: Pasko Kasama ang Pangulo at the Pag-Abot Processing Center at Nasdake Building in Pasay City, where the President served meals and handed gifts to beneficiaries.

“Layunin ng pagbisita ng Pangulo na maipadama sa mga kababayan natin na kasama nila ang pamahalaan ngayong Pasko,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said in a Palace press briefing.

“Isang paalala na hindi sila nag-iisa at kailanman ay hindi sila makakalimutan ng gobyerno… Sa ilalim ng liderato ni Pangulong Marcos Jr., lahat ng mga programa na naglalayong magbigay-proteksiyon at pag-asa sa pamilyang Pilipino magtutuloy-tuloy sa susunod na taon,” Castro added.

The President inspected the facilities at the Pag-Abot Processing Center, including the family area, male and female quarters, mess hall, wellness area, holding and processing area, multi-purpose hall, and medical room.

At the DSWD Walang Gutom Kitchen at the ground floor of the Pag-Abot Processing Center, President Marcos interacted with the beneficiaries and celebrated the Yuletide season by serving meals and giving gifts.

A temporary shelter with 180-bed capacity, the Pag-Abot Processing Center became operational in April 2024.

Through the Pag-Abot Program, the DSWD reaches out to families and individuals living in the streets to provide social welfare protection services and interventions.

The program has served 1,772 beneficiaries in its pilot implementation in 2023, with 741 individuals successfully reintegrated with their families.

Institutionalized by President Marcos through Executive Order No. 52 series of 2024, the program is currently implemented in the National Capital Region, Central Luzon and Calabarzon, and will be expanded to Central Visayas next year.

The Walang Gutom Kitchen, a component of the Pag-Abot Program, serves as a food bank to address involuntary hunger among families and individuals in street situations.

Launched on December 16, 2024 at the Nasdake Building in Pasay City, the facility serves breakfast and lunch to approximately 250 to 300 walk-in beneficiaries daily, with the help of food donors.

The DSWD plans to expand the Walang Gutom Kitchen to cater to beneficiaries in Central Luzon and Central Visayas next year. | PND