By Leilani S. Junio & Dan Karlo Ternora
MANILA, Jan. 16 (PNA) — As the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) celebrated its 63rd anniversary on Thursday, it also gave recognition and citations to its donors, media practitioners and other partners in the delivery of its various services to the disadvantaged sectors of society.
“We could not have performed our mission well without the support of these various partners and supporters,” said DSWD Secretary Corazon J. Soliman during the awarding ceremonies held at the DSWD Central Office in Batasan Hills, Quezon City.
Among those bestowed with citations were international organizations like the International Organization of Migration (IOM), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Asian Development Bank (ADB), and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Local donors who were also very supportive during the series of disasters that hit the country last year were likewise given recognition.
Among these generous local donors were the Lina Group of Companies, Petron Foundation, PhilSeven Foundation, SM Foundation Inc., San Miguel Corp., Maynilad and Manny V. Pangilinan Group of Companies.
Volunteer organizations like Tzu Chi Foundation and the US Peace Corps were also cited as Best Volunteer Organizations, while Love 146 Inc. was awarded as the Best Non-Government Organization (NGO).
Media outfits and practitioners that aired, published or wrote positive stories and articles on DSWD’s services, programs and projects and even constructive criticisms for the year 2013 were conferred with the “Gawad Ulat” award.
Among the “Gawad Ulat” awardees for last year were The Philippine Star (Newspaper); GMA News TV (Television) and DZRH (Radio Station).
According to Secretary Soliman, these media organizations’ dedication of either free airtime or positive stories on the department’s projects, programs and activities helped greatly in bringing the necessary information to the people, especially in the immediate delivery of services or clarification of issues.
Beat reporters who wrote the most number of stories and had been supportive of the department’s projects and programs for the year 2013 were also awarded with plaques of recognition.
Among them were Rainier Allan Ronda (from The Philippine Star), Ellalyn De Vera (Manila Bulletin), Cynthia Balana (Philippine Daily Inquirer), and Leilani S. Junio (Philippines News Agency).
Secretary Soliman noted that the time, resources and talents rendered by these organizations and individuals helped the department in fulfilling its mandate to continue serving the needy sector of the society, especially in the midst of the disasters that tested the resiliency of the affected victims, in particular, and the Filipino people, in general. (PNA)