President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has issuedon Thursday Executive Order (EO) No. 52 that institutionalized and expanded the Pag-abot Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The EO will take street dwellers and other poor and vulnerable individuals off the streets and help them to become productive members of society.

“The Pag-abot Program is hereby institutionalized as a platform for an enhanced and unified delivery of services to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, individuals, and families in street situations, through provision of social safety nets and protection against risks brought about by poverty,” President Marcos said in issuing the EO.

The Pag-abot Program consists of component assistance packages that not only involves transportation/relocation and financial assistance but also transitory shelter assistance, livelihood assistance, and employment assistance.

Also included are psychosocial support, capability building of communities and local government units (LGUs), as well as community assistance.

Under the EO, an Inter-Agency Committee will be created to ensure alignment with the objectives and complementation of activities of various government agencies.

The committee will be chaired by the DSWD Secretary with the Secretary of the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) as vice chair.

The Pag-abot Program is one of DSWD’s pilot programs, which extends assistance to vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, children, and families in street situations by providing various interventions and opportun

Institutionalizing the program will ensure effective delivery of services towards addressing poverty and social and economic inequality in the country.

In accordance with the AmBisyon Natin 2040 as embodied in the Philippine Development Plan 2023-2028, the administration endeavors to implement policies and programs that are centered on coherent economic and social transformation and equitable distribution of regional development opportunities.

The Philippines has made a commitment to realizing United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 1 to eradicate poverty, by implementing nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, and granting equal access to economic resources particularly for the poor and vulnerable sector of society.

Photo: Presidential Communications Office