DSWD vows to further strengthen social protection for Pinoys in 2026 ~ HUMAN RIGHTS PROMOTIONS

Friday, January 2, 2026

DSWD vows to further strengthen social protection for Pinoys in 2026

Friday, January 02, 2026 Herbert Curia - Promoter No comments

From the Website of PNA
links https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1266033

DSWD vows to further strengthen social protection for Pinoys in 2026

MANILA – As the year 2026 begins, the Department of Social Welfare and Development

(DSWD) has reiterated its commitment in supporting the goal of the Marcos administration to improve the quality of life of Filipinos.

“We remain committed to strengthening social protection programs, expanding poverty alleviation services, and enhancing community resilience to ensure improved well-being for all Filipino families,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said in a statement on Wednesday.

The DSWD spokesperson made the statement in the wake of the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey indicating that 29 percent of Filipino adults said their quality of life improved (gainers), 36 percent said it worsened (losers), and 34 percent said it remained the same (unchanged).

This yields a Net Gainers score of –7 (percentage of gainers minus losers), which the SWS classified as fair.

The November survey noted that the decline was driven by decreases in most areas of the country.

Mindanao recorded the highest Net Gainers score at +2 (high), while Balance Luzon registered –7 (fair). Metro Manila and the Visayas both fell to “mediocre” levels at –12 and –14, respectively.

Overall, 44 percent of adult Filipinos are looking forward to the improvement of their quality of life ("optimists") in the next 12 months, according to the SWS.

In support of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s call for a more transparent and people-oriented budget, Dumlao said the whole DSWD, under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, will ensure the judicious and effective spending of public funds once the President signs the 2026 national budget.

She said the ongoing review of the ratified 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA) is a necessary step to ensure the judicious and effective spending of public funds.

“The DSWD will support the Marcos Administration's call to responsibly use the funds through prudent spending, execution of strong accountability measures, and implementation of social welfare and development programs that will help advance inclusive growth, protect the most vulnerable, and deliver meaningful improvements to the marginalized sector,” Dumlao said.

The SWS survey was conducted nationwide face-to-face from Nov. 24 to 30 among 1,200 adults aged 18 years old and above — 300 respondents each in Metro Manila, Balance Luzon (the rest of Luzon outside Metro Manila), Visayas and Mindanao.

According to the SWS, the sampling error margins are at ±3 percent for national percentages and ±6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao. (PNA)

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