Legazpi City, Albay – Ambassadors from the United Kingdom, Australia, South Korea, and Canada, together with representatives from the World Food Programme (WFP) and the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), visited the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V – Bicol Region on March 26-27, 2025. Their visit aimed to engage in key activities focused on enhancing social welfare programs and assessing the agency’s response to Severe Tropical Storm Kristine and Super Typhoon Pepito in the Bicol Region.
Among the dignitaries present were:
* Embassy of Australia: Mr. Peter Adams, Counsellor (Development) and Ms. Ariana Santoalla, Senior Program Officer.
* Embassy of Canada to the Republic of the Philippines: Mr. John Lok, Counsellor.
* Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of the Philippines: Ms. Jeongbin Lee, First Secretary.
* Embassy of the United Kingdom to the Republic of the Philippines: Mr. Andrew Bowes, First Counsellor (Political).
* World Food Programme (WFP): Mr. Regis Chapman, Country Director.
* UNICEF Philippines: Mr. Behzad Noubary.
On the first day, the dignitaries, together with DSWD Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao, joined DSWD Bicol in conducting Special Family Development Sessions (FDS) under the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) for partner beneficiaries at Oas Town Hall, Oas, Albay. These sessions focused on resilience-building and proper nutrition.
Following the session, beneficiaries applied their learning by purchasing nutritious food from local markets, following the “Go, Grow, and Glow” food groups to improve their family’s dietary intake.
One beneficiary, Early Rendon from Oas, Albay, expressed her gratitude for the assistance:
“Nagpapasalamat ako sa World Food Programme dahil sa Emergency Cash Transfer na ibinigay sa amin, lalo na’t naibili ko ng aming mga pangangailangan, kagaya ng bigas, karne, gulay, at isda, at iba pang mga pangangailangan namin sa bahay. Maraming-maraming salamat. Sana po marami pa po kayong matulungan.”
On the second day, the delegation focused on disaster preparedness and response efforts. They visited the Department’s Mobile Storage Unit on loan agreement between the agency and the UN-WFP. This is to assess DSWD Bicol’s capacity in prepositioning and distributing food and non food items, and inspected the agency’s mobile command center.
The visit concluded with an exclusive meeting between the ambassadors, WFP, UNICEF, and DSWD Bicol Regional Director Norman S. Laurio.
During the meeting, RD Laurio highlighted the agency’s ongoing relief efforts and reaffirmed its commitment to immediate disaster response.
Discussions also centered on expanding the reach of 4Ps and streamlining the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) system to ensure faster financial assistance during calamities.
This activity is aligned with DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s vision in prioritizing disaster preparedness to enhance emergency response, relief distribution, and recovery efforts.
This visit underscores the strong international support for the Philippine government’s efforts to improve social protection and disaster response. The collaboration between DSWD Bicol, its partner agencies, and global stakeholders paves the way for more effective and inclusive programs that uplift vulnerable communities in times of need.