The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday launched the “Angels in Red Vests” (ARV), a new campaign aimed to promote the department’s workforce as diligent and hardworking.
DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian said the campaign recognizes the unwavering dedication of the agency personnel, who are always ready to lend a compassionate helping hand to society’s poor and vulnerable sectors by giving “extra love” and “extra care” to those in need of assistance.
“I heard a term that stuck to my head and I can’t let go of it because it actually captures what we should be and what we are,” Gatchalian said in a pre-recorded video message during the ARV launching, which is a part of the 73rd-anniversary celebration of the DSWD.
“The historical context of this term came about when former DSWD Secretary [Rolando] Bautista called our social workers and development workers in the field, ‘Angels in Red Vests.’ He called them ‘Angels in Red Vests’ because in the most trying times during his tenure as secretary, our peers, our workers across the nation, stood up to the challenge of Covid. Walang piniling oras, walang piniling araw, walang pinili na delikado sa buhay o hindi (ready (to help) any time, any day, death-defying or not),” he added.
A highlight of the ARV launch is a group dance of DSWD personnel led by Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs Aliah Fatima Dimaporo. The dance was based on the Angels in Red Vest music video which was flashed on the screen.
The ARV group dance was followed by another batch of DSWD personnel who acted as models for the different “Angels in Red Vests” limited edition merchandise that included vests, caps, tumblers, and pens bearing the ARV logo.
The ARV campaign will also serve as a platform to promote the practice of social work and community development work, through the lens of DSWD employees.
The campaign was simultaneously launched in the DSWD Central Office and across all DSWD Field Offices in the country’s 17 regions.
To learn more about the campaign, the public may access the official social media pages of the ARV campaign, @angelsinredvestsph on Facebook and TikTok. (PNA)
