Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has emphasized the necessity of including social protection as part of the conversations on inclusive health and wellness economy in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

“When we talk about wellness, we often think about the individual – the food we eat, the healthcare we receive, the lifestyle we maintain, or the places where we rest and recover. But wellness is never created by the individual alone. It is shaped by the systems and communities that support people,” the DSWD chief said in his keynote message during the ASEAN Health Tourism and Wellness Economy Summit and the Health and Wellness Conference and Expo 2026 at the SMX Convention Center on Friday.

Gatchalian noted that a person’s well-being is influenced not only by access to healthcare, but also by whether families can afford nutritious food, secure sustainable livelihoods, access essential services, and withstand economic and social shocks.

The DSWD chief added that despite the many opportunities created by the wellness economy, economic growth in the said sector must still be accompanied by investments that ensure people can participate in and benefit from that growth.

“This is where social protection enters the wellness conversation. The wellness economy cannot be sustainable if its benefits are accessible only to those who can afford them, and it cannot be truly inclusive if people are expected to participate only as consumers. They should also have the opportunity to participate as workers, entrepreneurs, and partners in the economy,” Gatchalian said.

He added that the DSWD can support the inclusion of social protection in the ASEAN wellness economy by implementing social protection and development programs.

These include the Walang Gutom Program (WGP), which addresses food insecurity; and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), which provides poor, vulnerable, and marginalized Filipinos with opportunities to access livelihood and employment, helping them move toward greater economic self-sufficiency.

“Our collective commitment to advance the well-being of every Southeast Asian citizen should be evident not only in the growth of our health and wellness economies, but also in the people who build, sustain, and benefit from them,” Gatchalian stressed.

The ASEAN Health Tourism and Wellness Economy Summit is organized by the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI). (PNA)