Former Valenzuela City Congressman Rex Gatchalian has been confirmed as the new Secretary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) by the Commission on Appointments (CA) in a quick hearing on Tuesday (May 16).
The CA members find him highly qualified for the post due to his impressive track record as former Valenzuela City mayor for nine years and former 1st District representative for over six years.
During the confirmation hearing, the CA panel approved Secretary Gatchalian's nomination after he responded to queries about his plans for the DSWD.
He emphasized the importance of strengthening the department's development programs, which he believes will help break the cycle of poverty.
“These development programs are the ones that will break the chain of poverty or the cycle of poverty,“ the DWSD secretary said.
He plans to improve flagship programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and Kapitbisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (Kalahi-CIDSS), among others.
Secretary Gatchalian also stated that while ending poverty is a long-term goal, there are short-term measures that can be taken, such as ending hunger, which will be investments in human capital that can be implemented immediately.
“Ending poverty is a long game, but there are low-lying fruits like ending hunger that we want to look at because these are investments to human capital that we can do immediately. We also want to bring back dignity in getting social welfare by making sure that we streamline the requirements, and that we go digital,” he added.
