CONCEPCION, Tarlac (Sept. 14, 2023) — Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Rowena Niña Taduran graced the opening of Tarlac province’s first Social Welfare and Development (SWAD) satellite office this morning.
USec. Taduran, DSWD Region III Director Maribel Blanco, Tarlac Governor Susan Yap, Vice-Governor Carlito David, Third District Congressional Representative Noel ‘Bong’ Rivera, and Concepcion Mayor Noel Villanueva led the ribbon-cutting to officially open the satellite office that will serve the people of Bamban, Capas, Concepcion, and La Paz.
Witnessing the ribbon-cutting were Capas Mayor Boots Rodriguez, La Paz Mayor Venus Jordan, and their local councils. Concepcion Councilors Boy Mandal and Carlo Avena were also in attendance.
Gov. Yap and USec. Taduran also handed the first cash payouts to the first 10 Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation beneficiaries.
“Dati ang payout ay inaabot ng three days, but now it’s only one day,” Taduran, a former ACT-CIS Representative said.
According to Taduran, this is the third satellite office in Central Luzon.
“Malapit po sa puso ko ang mga kababayan nating nangangailanganng kalinga at serbisyo publiko. Marami pang mga sattellite ofices to come at bilang lingkod bayan, serbisyong dekalidad ang aming ibinibigay,” Taduran said.
She also conveyed the message of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian thanking the province of Tarlac for cooperating in bringing the DSWD services closer to the people.
Rep. Rivera initiated the setting up of a SWAD satellite office in the Third District after realizing that the DSWD office in Tarlac Office is hard-pressed accommodating hundreds of beneficiaries.
“Ang importante ay napapabilis ang serbisyo. Dito natin nakikita ang kagandahan kapag ang mga namumuno ay nagkakaisa para sa progreso ng ating bayan. Kung watak-watak, matagal ang sistema. Dahil mula governor, congressman, mayor, mabilis po ang aksyon. Aksyon agad!” Rivera said.
Meanwhile, Gov. Yap said that a satellite office at the Concepcion Sports Complex would lessen the time Tarlakenyos spent waiting at the main DSWD Office in the city.
“It is ideal to bring the satellite offfices kasi marami kaming payouts na ginagawa sa probinsya, at palagi kong sinasabi, yung pamasahe lang ang layu-layo. Nung una hindi lang payouts ng DSWD, payouts ng DA at ng iba’t-ibang national agencies – I want to bring this directly to the people,” Yap said.
Mayor Villanueva also commended the setting up of a SWAD satellite office in his town.
“Very commendable ang pagtatayo ng DSWD Satellite Office sa Concepcion na pinakagitna sa Ikatlong Distrito ng Tarlac dahil maipadadama natin sa ating mga kababayan na ang gobyerno ay nandiyan lamang. Inilalapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga tao. Kaya tamang-tama ang adhikain ng DSWD na ang “bawat buhay ay mahalaga” at naipapakita ito, hindi lamang sa salita,” Villanueva said.
