The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. remains committed to helping the Filipino people, with a strong focus on education and developing the economy further.

In a radio interview Tuesday, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian said providing various forms of assistance to needy Filipinos is part of the mandate of the government.

“Lagi sinasabi ng Pangulo, panandalian o temporary lang na lunas ang social welfare. Ang anti-poverty programs katulad ng libreng edukasyon, paglago ng ekonomiya para magkaroon ng trabaho ang mga tao, ‘yan ang bagay na long-term in nature para maahon natin sila sa kahirapan (The President always says that social welfare is only a short-term or temporary solution. Anti-poverty programs such as free education, economic growth so that people can have jobs, those are long-term in nature so that we can lift them out of poverty),” Gatchalian said, in response to observations that the Philippines is becoming an “ayuda” (assistance) nation.

Gatchalian said it’s part of the state’s work to assist the poor, vulnerable and marginalized.

“People who can’t protect themselves, that’s the government’s job,” Gatchalian said.

“Kailangan masusing pinagdaraanan kung pasok ba to sa criteria ng social welfare … ‘yan ‘yung mga pangmatagalang programa para maahon natin sila sa kahirapan, para hindi na nila kakailanganin na lumapit ulit para sa (It needs to be thoroughly checked to see if it meets the criteria of social welfare… those are the long-term programs so that we can lift them out of poverty so that they will not need to come again for) social welfare,” he added. (PNA)