First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos visited a government-run facility for persons with special needs in Alabang, Muntinlupa City to thank personnel for taking good care of their wards.

On her Facebook page, Araneta-Marcos shared a video of her visit to the Elsie Gaches Village (EGV) on Saturday where she took time to check up on the facility’s wards and distribute gifts.

She also visited the handicrafts on display which were made by clients of the facility as shown in the video.

The EGV, a facility run by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), is a residential care facility for persons with intellectual/mental impairments who were abandoned, neglected, or abused by their own family and community.

It was founded by American couple Samuel and Elsie Gaches, who donated their 16-hectare summer villa to the government on Feb. 3, 1964, so it could be used as a shelter for the sick, aged, and handicapped.

In a short speech, Araneta-Marcos reiterated President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s promise of providing funds for nearly 70 residential care centers and seven non-residential care centers for the vulnerable sectors and persons with disabilities.

She also lauded EGV personnel for their “labor of love”, adding that working for the facility was “not an easy job.”

“From all that I’ve heard you have kept true to your promise to the American couple and now EGV has become the haven of hope [for] those in need,” Araneta-Marcos said.

“On behalf of my husband, who would like to convey his warm regards and well wishes to the residents of EGV, to all the DSWD personnel, doctors, [and] neurologists for all your hard work and all the effort that you put in to take care of the residents, I know it’s not easy and is really a labor of love,” she added. “Thank you for all the hard work that you do.”

The First Lady was joined by DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo, Benguet Rep. Eric Yap and DSWD-National Capital Region Director Pinky Romualdez

Under the proposed 2023 national budget, the Marcos administration is seeking a PHP197 billion budget to address the needs of the marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The government will likewise continue to fully support the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, Protective Services for Individuals and Families in Difficult Circumstances, Sustainable Livelihood Program, and the Supplementary Feeding Program. (PNA)