The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has highlighted three major milestones under its programs to protect vulnerable sectors.

The initiatives – Enhanced ProtecTEEN, Project Aruga, and Project SAFE – support the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to invest in human capital and strengthen social protection.

“Alam niyo po, for the past year, marami talagang ginawa ang DSWD alinsunod narin sa kautusan ng Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. na wakasan ang kagutuman sa atin pong bansa, ipagpatuloy natin ang pamumuhunan sa human capital, at gayundin sa pamumuhunan natin sa disaster response efforts ng atin pong pamahalaan (You know, for the past year, the DSWD has made a lot in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to end hunger in our country, to continue investing in human capital, and also for theh disaster response efforts of our government),” DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said during the agency’s weekly media forum Thursday.

As part of its efforts to protect vulnerable sectors, the DSWD assisted 828 adolescent mothers through the Enhanced ProtecTEEN program, where beneficiaries received monthly financial assistance and psychosocial healing interventions.

“Kaya nga dito sa ilalim ng Enhanced ProtecTEEN, nagpo-provide tayo ng PHP3,000 na economic empowerment grant para po magamit sa kanilang pangkalusugan at pangkalusugan na pangangailangan din po ng kani-kanilang mga anak (Under the Enhanced ProtecTEEN, we provide a PHP3,000 economic empowerment grant to be used for their health and the health needs of their respective children),” Dumlao said.

The Enhanced ProtecTEEN program seeks to protect adolescent mothers, prevent repeat pregnancies, and support their continued development while fulfilling their responsibilities as parents.

Meanwhile, Project Aruga provided health interventions and financial assistance to 1,140 families caring for children with disabilities. The disability support allowance helps family members who carry the demanding responsibility of caring for children with disabilities.

“Alam naman natin na hindi madali ‘yun pong responsibilidad at ‘yung mga tasks na ginagampanan nila, so binibigyan din sila ng kaukulang suporta para maipagpatuloy ‘yung pagbabantay, pangangalaga sa atin pong children with disabilities (We know that the responsibility and the tasks they perform are not easy, so they are also given the appropriate support to continue the monitoring and care-giving to our children with disabilities),” Dumlao said.

The DSWD also assisted 120 victim-survivors of Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children (OSAEC) through Project SAFE, which provides therapeutic and educational support to help them recover and rebuild their lives.

Project SAFE also reached 619 community members through advocacy campaigns, particularly in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao, where the pilot implementation began.

The DSWD said it continues to provide holistic interventions to help victim-survivors safely reintegrate into their communities and prevent revictimization. (PNA)