The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched three innovative social protection programs responsive to the unique needs of children, adolescent mothers and persons with disabilities, in line with the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to address the immediate and development needs of vulnerable sectors.

DSWD spokesperson Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said these are Project SAFE or Keeping a Sexually Abuse Free Environment, Enhanced ProtecTEEN, and Project Aruga that advances social protection initiatives for these vulnerable sectors.

“Alinsunod sa utos ni Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. na palakasin ang social protection programs sa bansa, na siyang naging direktiba din niya noong SONA 2025 na tiyaking naaabot ng gobyerno ang mga pinaka-vulnerable nating kababayan, dumarami na ang mga benepisyaryong nabibigyan ng dagdag na kita, proteksyon at oportunidad (In line with the directives of President Marcos to strengthen social protection programs nationwide, which was also his directive during his State of the Nation Address in 2025 to ensure that government reaches our most vulnerable countrymen, more beneficiaries are now provided with additional income, protection and opportunity),” Dumlao said in a news release on Monday.

To address teen pregnancy, the DSWD champions the Enhanced ProtecTEEN Program, which empowers adolescent mothers through psychosocial healing, health monitoring, educational assistance and economic capacity-building.

The DSWD provides a PHP3,000 monthly grant for 24 months to beneficiaries who complete regular medical checkups, attend school, and participate in the program’s Healing and Transformation Sessions.

Through the enhanced ProtectTEEN program, the DSWD has provided school reintegration guidance and skills training to 828 adolescent mothers from Region 3 (Central Luzon), Region 6 (Western Visayas), Region 10 (Northern Mindanao), the National Capital Region (NCR), and Region 4A (Calabarzon).

“Sa pamamagitan ng ProtecTEEN, hindi lang natin binibigyan ng tulong pinansyal ang mga teenage mothers, kundi binibigyan din natin sila ng pagkakataong makapag-aral at makapagsimula muli para sa mas magandang kinabukasan ng kanilang mga anak (Through ProtecTEEN, teenage mothers are not only provided financial assistance, but also the opportunity to study for them to start anew and provide their child a better future),” the DSWD spokesperson said.

The DSWD also implements Project Aruga to deliver disability-inclusive social protection to children with disabilities and their respective families.

The initiative rolls out health interventions and issues a disability support allowance to ease the financial burden on caregivers and protect the rights of the children.

To date, the DSWD has enrolled 1,140 families of children with disabilities across nine regions: National Capital Region (NCR), Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Bicol Region, Western Visayas and Davao Region.

With the presence of the internet and digital technology posing dangers to children, the DSWD launched Project SAFE against Online Sexual Abuse or Exploitation of Children (OSAEC).

The project aims to bolster prevention, recovery, and reintegration measures for its victim-survivors and create a safer environment for children.

Since May, the DSWD has operated the program in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao, through therapeutic sessions and provision of educational assistance to over 120 victim-survivors.

Social workers engaged 619 community members through targeted advocacy campaigns.

Before the end of 2026, the DSWD aims to extend Project SAFE into new communities across the current implementing regions, as well as in the NCR and Calabarzon.

“Seryoso ang administrasyon na tuldukan ang online exploitation, kaya sa Project SAFE, tinutulungan nating makabangon at maghilom ang mga biktima habang nagpapalaganap tayo ng matinding awareness sa mga komunidad para maprotektahan ang bawat bata (The administration is serious in putting an end to online exploitation, that’s why in Project SAFE, we help victims recover and heal while we strengthen awareness in communities to protect every child),” Dumlao said.

Dumlao said the DSWD reaffirms its unwavering commitment to ensure that all Filipinos, especially those belonging to the most vulnerable sectors, receive the right interventions and targeted support to help them overcome the challenges they face and lead them to development.

“Through the continuous expansion and steadfast implementation of these specialized programs, the DSWD remains dedicated to protecting the marginalized and paving the way toward a safer, brighter and better future for every Filipino,” she said. (PNA)