DSWD chief, Malaysian envoy explore partnership to provide social services in BARMM

When: December 18, 2023

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Malaysian Ambassador to the Philippines His Excellency Dato’ Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino explore possible collaboration on providing social welfare services to the people of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) during a courtesy call at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on Monday (December 18).

The DSWD chief highlighted some of the major programs of the agency, including the Walang Gutom 2027: Food Stamp Program (FSP), which provides a holistic approach to combat involuntary hunger by providing its beneficiaries with access to monetary-based assistance and also invites them to become more productive citizens by participating in capacity building and training to improve their employable skills.

Secretary Gatchalian said the DSWD and the Malaysian government, in coordination with the Ministry of Social Services and Development of BARMM, can collaborate on the expansion of the FSP in the said region after its pilot implementation.

Present during the meeting are Deputy Chief of Mission Mohd Fareed Zakaria; Counsellor Nurriha Ahmad; and Police Attaché Supt. Norazman Hassan Basari.

DSWD officials who attended the event are Undersecretary for Innovations Edu Punay; Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs Fatima Aliah Q. Dimaporo; and Assistant Secretary for Partnerships Building and Resource Mobilization Ana Maria Paz B. Rafael.