By Zaldy De Layola
MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development has joined the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Guild Awards in recognizing the outstanding CSR projects and collaborations of the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) members to bring sustainable impacts to poor communities.
The projects played an important role in various areas of endeavor such as culture and the arts, environment, disaster resilience, health, education, enterprise development and financial inclusivity, among others.
During the 2023 CSR Guild Awards held Thursday in Makati City, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian encouraged LCF member-companies to unite and collaborate with the government to help improve the lives of the poor and marginalized Filipinos.
In his keynote address, he said nation-building is not always about providing material things, but also offering intangible ones.
“The best type of nation-building is if we all put our hands together and devote time, and get out of our comfort zones, and try to make a difference,” he said.
“In nation-building, it does not always equate to the amount of money you give. Nation-building is about the amount of love, extra love, and extra care that you put into the endeavor,” he added.
The LCF is composed of private corporations and foundations that promote and enhance the strategic practice of CSR among its members and the larger business community towards sustained national development.
He highlighted the WALANG GUTOM 2027: Food Provision through Strategic Transfer and Alternative Measures Program (Food STAMP Program), one of DSWD’s new priority programs personally approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
He encouraged the members to support the program by becoming partners of the DSWD to change the social behavior of would-be beneficiaries by offering nutrition development classes and promoting healthy food options so that they can become healthy consumers.
“We need the private sector to end hunger,” he said.
Gatchalian also gave emphasis on the Department’s current retooling of its programs and services, including the registration, licensing and accreditation process for public and private Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs).
“In the near future we will be announcing a series of memorandum circulars to streamline processes, forms, requirements and steps, and ease your regulatory requirements with us. We know that you are partners in nation-building so we know we have to make it easier for you to set up,” he said, commending LCF members for their contribution to nation-building.
“Maraming, maraming salamat sa inyong pakikiisa sa paghubog nang mas maayos at mas makabuluhang Pilipinas (Thank you very much for your cooperation in shaping a better and more meaningful Philippines),” he added.
He said the DSWD will continue to create linkages with the private sector, and implement innovative solutions to address poverty and hunger as envisioned by the Marcos administration. (PNA)
