Latest news with #Gatchalian
GMA Network
a day ago
- Politics
- GMA Network
Amendments to 4Ps law will let beneficiaries stay more than 7 years — DSWD
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said that amendments to the 4Ps program would allow beneficiaries to stay in the program as long as they needed to. During the Post-SONA discussion on Tuesday, DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian shared that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s call to amend the 4Ps law would allow those in the program to stay longer than seven years. Gatchalian noted this as a welcome development, as two million Filipinos were about to exit the program in 2026 for reaching the maximum number of years in the program. 'Itong programa na ito namumuhunan tayo sa taong bayan, namumuhunan tayo sa Pilipino. This is an investment in human capital. Kumbaga hindi pa tapos yung ating pamumuhunan, kailangan siguraduhin natin na hindi masayang 'yung investment natin,' he said. (This program invests in the public and Filipinos. This is an investment on human capital. Our investments are not yet over, so we need to ensure that what we have poured in would not be wasted.) Gatchalian noted that the length of a beneficiary's stay in the program should depend on their state and quality of life, and if they would be able to support themselves after graduating from the program. 'Tinignan ng Pangulo yung kapakanan nila at yung estado nila sa buhay rather than yung pipilitin natin na alis sila sa programa, masasayang ang pamumuhunan natin sa kanila at masasayang yung programa sa whole,' he shared. (The President is considering their welfare and state of life rather than forcing them to leave the program, and it would be a waste of our investment on them and the program as a whole.) 'Kailan tignan natin yung estado ng pamilya: Kaya na ba talaga nilang tumayo sa kanilang sariling paa? Yung mga anak ba nila, nakatapos na?' he added. (We need to look at the state of the family: Can they now stand on their own? Have their kids been able to finish their studies?) The DSWD Secretary shared that 1.4 million Filipinos have already graduated from the 4Ps program since it began in 2022. — RF, GMA Integrated News
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GMA Network
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
SONA 2025: Sherwin Gatchalian arrives at Batasan alone
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian attended President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.'s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA) at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City without Bianca Manalo this time. When GMA News Online asked Gatchalian why the Kapuso actress was absent, he simply replied "no comment." The last time Gatchalian attended SONA with Manalo was in 2024. In January, Gatchalian also refused to confirm nor deny rumors of their split, repeatedly responding "no comment" when pressed to talk about his relationship status with Manalo. In December 2023, when Manalo was dragged into a controversy with her "Magandang Dilag" co-star Rob Gomez, Manalo dismissed it as "false rumors circulating on the internet" with Gatchalian saying their relationship was "going strong." Watch GMA Integrated News' SONA 2025 livestream. — LA, GMA Integrated News
Filipino Times
4 days ago
- Climate
- Filipino Times
DSWD pushes for resilient, climate-ready communities
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is aiming to shift its focus from reactive disaster response to proactive investments in climate-resilient communities. In a speech during the 37th National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) celebration at the DSWD central office in Quezon City, Secretary Rex Gatchalian emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of vulnerable communities amid the increasing frequency and intensity of natural disasters caused by climate change. 'Tayo sa DSWD, we are known for disaster response, but our promise in the next couple of days, or in the next couple of months, or in the next couple of years is to invest in resilient communities,' he added. He said the agency would allocate funds to capacitate poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors to help them adapt to the 'new normal.' Gatchalian highlighted programs such as Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and Project BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished), which combine agricultural development and climate adaptation. These initiatives include a cash-for-training/work component that offers temporary employment while providing practical training in gardening, water harvesting, disaster risk reduction, and climate change adaptation. The DSWD chief also expressed gratitude to disaster responders and local government units (LGUs) for their coordinated efforts during recent calamities. 'To all DSWD personnel and LGUs, thank you for the swift and coordinated disaster response in the past 12 days,' he said.
GMA Network
6 days ago
- Climate
- GMA Network
DepEd urged to expedite repairs of classrooms damaged by bad weather
Senator Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday called on the Department of Education (DepEd) to fast-track the assessments and repairs of classrooms damaged by tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, as well as the enhanced Southwest Monsoon or Habagat. Gatchalian, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Basic Education, said that the DepEd should work with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and local government units in order to expedite the rehabilitation of affected classrooms. 'Kung mananatiling sira ang ating mga classroom, magpapatuloy ang banta sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mag-aaral at guro,' he said in a statement. (If our classrooms remain damaged, the threat to the safety of our students and teachers will continue.) Based on DepEd's situation report as of Wednesday night, its disaster risk reduction and management service recorded 1,876 classrooms with minor damage, 562 with major damage, and 531 that were totally damaged. Most of the classroom damage was logged in the Cordillera Administrative Region (738), followed by the Ilocos Region (732) and then Central Luzon (227). DepEd said that it had initiated the release of response funds to affected schools to support immediate clearing and clearing operations. Gatchalian also underscored the importance of making classrooms and school buildings climate-resilient 'not just to protect lives, but to break the costly cycle of repair and reconstruction every time disaster strikes.' 'Investing in resilient infrastructure now will save resources, safeguard learning, and ensure continuity in education,' the senator added. —VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
22-07-2025
- Climate
- GMA Network
Over 490K families affected by bad weather —DSWD
Members of the rescue team from the 525th Combat Engineer Battalion (525CEBn), the Philippine Army's main Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Response (HADR) unit, prepare to assist flood-affected residents in Quezon City and Marikina City on Monday, July 21, 2025. The Southwest Monsoon (Habagat) brought heavy rains, flooding many areas. Photo courtesy: S7, 525CEBn Philippine Army More than 490,000 families have been affected by the bad weather brought by the Southwest Monsoon or Habagat, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said on Tuesday. ''Mayroon na tayong 490,418 na affected families kung saan ang 14,191 families ang ngayon nakatira sa mga iba't ibang evacuation centers natin. Mayroon tayong tumatakbo na around 500 na evacuation centers na nakabukas nationwide,'' said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian in a palace briefing. (We already have 490,418 affected families wherein 14,191 families are residing in various evacuation centers. Around 500 evacuation centers were also operational nationwide.) Gatchalian also said that around 500 evacuation centers are operating and catering to the needs of affected Filipinos amid the continuous rains which resulted in floods in several parts of the country, including Metro Manila. Meanwhile, the DSWD said it has released 92,590 family food packs since Tropical Cyclone Crising hit the country, noting that the distribution will continue. In its recent situational report, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) disclosed that six individuals were reported dead due to Crising, the Habagat, and the low pressure area (LPA). Damage to infrastructure is currently estimated at P413,020,214 and P54,067,336 for agriculture, according to the NDRRMC. A state of calamity was also declared in Umingan, Pangasinan. Rains are also expected to persist as three low pressure areas are being monitored inside and outside the Philippine area of responsibility, state weather bureau PAGASA has said. —VAL, GMA Integrated News
