Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Saturday assured that more than 70 residential and non-residential care facilities of the agency are in good running condition and have adequate personnel to respond to the needs of vulnerable sectors and persons with disabilities.

Gatchalian also said the department continues to improve the operation of 64 residential and seven non-residential care centers, especially after President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s assurance of the availability of funds for these facilities.

Earlier, he ordered the re-assessment and re-tooling of operations and mechanisms of the 64 existing residential care facilities of the DSWD in 16 regions and seven non-residential care facilities in the National Capital Region, Ilocos, Central Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, and Soccsksargen regions.

The re-tooling of the DSWD-run centers is part of the current administration’s efforts to make people feel the compassion of its government.

“Kung tayo ay sasagip…, hindi naman pwede na hindi nila maramdaman ang kalinga. Dapat ay sapat at maayos ang titirahan (If we are to save, we need to make sure that they will feel our compassion. The residential care centers should be livable and comfortable),” Gatchalian said.

During the second semester of 2022, under the first six months of the Marcos administration, the DSWD recorded about 2,979 new clients served by various centers nationwide, contributing to the 9,068 total clients served during the year.

For the first half of 2023, DSWD-operated facilities have served 7,139 clients, representing more than 60 percent of the 8,782 full-year target.

Gatchalian vowed that these residential and non-residential care facilities would continue to provide protection and rehabilitation to vulnerable and disadvantaged children, youth, women, senior citizens, persons with disability, and individuals and families in crisis. (PNA)