PRRD inaugurates DSWD’s Malasakit Building

**NEW DSWD BUILDING.** President Rodrigo Duterte leads the unveiling of the marker of the Malasakit Building during the 69th founding anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City on Jan. 29, 2020. Joining the President are Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista and Senator Christopher “Bong” Go. *(Ace Morendante/Presidential Photographer Photo)*

MANILA (Philippines News Agency) — President Rodrigo R. Duterte inaugurated the new office building of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) named the “Malasakit Building” at the central office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City during the agency’s 69th founding anniversary culminating activity on Wednesday.

“Today is the most auspicious time to talk about the true meaning of malasakit at pagbabago, as we celebrate the 69th Founding Anniversary of the Department of Social Welfare and Development,” Duterte said in his speech at the DSWD Central Office.

“For nearly seven decades, DSWD has been the lead agency of the government in ensuring that Filipinos have equal access to opportunities and are enabled to improve their [quality of life] in a fair, just and peaceful manner,” he added.

The new building was built to enhance its operational capacity by providing additional workspace and a comfortable environment for its clients and personnel.

The agency said the building is a reminder to all officials and staff of the real essence of the department’s mandate which is to provide genuine, prompt, and compassionate service to the poor, vulnerable, and marginalized sectors.

It will house the DSWD Operations Group implementing the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens (SPISC), and Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP), among others.

The agency sees stronger coordination in terms of improving program implementation to ensure that the government’s target to reduce poverty incidence to 14 percent by 2022 will be achieved.

The construction of the Malasakit Building was undertaken in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) – Bureau of Construction and was completed on Dec. 13, 2019. (PR)