While most of the efforts being made by the government is focused on alleviating the pandemic, the responsibility to provide support for the underprivileged remains. This especially rings true since the pandemic has directly affected the employment of many Filipinos.

In this regard, the Commission on Human Rights commends the efforts being made by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in the continuous provision of livelihood support to women through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.

SLP is a capacity building program which provides opportunities to the vulnerable, marginalised, and disadvantaged individuals, families, and communities to enhance their livelihood assets and capacity to utilise their resources more productively. DSWD encourages interested participants to ask assistance from their city or municipality’s SLP Project Development Officers.

According to Article 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services.” Similarly, DSWD is mandated by law to develop, administer, and implement comprehensive social welfare programs designed to uplift the living conditions and empower the disadvantaged, including women.

As we continue to stress the essence of the Magsaysay Credo—”those who have less in life should have more in law”—the Commission extends its gratitude and support to DSWD for the unhampered provision of social welfare assistance to low-income Filipino women and their families affected by the ongoing health crisis. ###