Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) officer-in-charge Eduardo Punay and Labour and Welfare Bureau Secretary Chris Sun of the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) affirmed on Monday their commitment to work together in protecting the well-being of every Filipino in the Philippines and abroad during a meeting held at the DSWD Central Office.

In his message, DSWD OIC Punay emphasized the Department’s efforts to intensify mechanisms in safeguarding the rights and promoting the well-being of Filipinos as one of the department’s top priorities.

He also expressed the DSWD’s support in strengthening the bilateral ties with foreign governments, such as the Labour and Welfare Bureau of Hong Kong SAR, to ensure that the rights of the Filipinos are being protected and promoted abroad.

“As we continue to share the same vision, the Department of Social Welfare and Development is open to closely work with your agency and develop a meaningful partnership for the benefit of the sectors that we serve,” Punay stated in his message.

Punay also extended his sincere gratitude to the Hong Kong government for their support to Filipino household workers in Hong Kong and for giving them the needed attention and special concern on their medical and healthcare needs.

To ensure the provision of social welfare programs and services to overseas Filipinos (OFs) in Hong Kong, the DSWD through its International Social Service Office (ISSO), deployed one Social Welfare Attaché in the Philippine Consulate in Hong Kong.

To date, the DSWD has served some 11,814 OFs in Hong Kong through the provision of social welfare and development programs such as psychosocial services; Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS); pre-marriage and marriage counseling services; referral services; socio-cultural and capability building activities; repatriation program and reintegration services among others. (PNA)