THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended transitory shelter assistance to 105 beneficiaries under its Pag-Abot Program, targeting families and individuals in street situations (FISS).
The initiative aims to help beneficiaries transition from living on the streets to securing safe and decent temporary housing.
The program was institutionalized in 2024 through Executive Order 52, strengthening the government’s response to homelessness.
According to the DSWD, transitory shelter assistance provides temporary but secure housing while beneficiaries work toward long-term stability.
Beyond housing, the agency also delivered psychosocial support and community-based interventions to ensure holistic recovery.
Beneficiaries were likewise given livelihood assistance, including startup capital and materials for small businesses such as food carts and sari-sari stores.
“Providing a safe roof for our beneficiaries is just the very first step, because we also want to ensure they have a sustainable source of income to support their daily needs,” Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao said.
“Even if we give them shelter, without a source of daily income, there is a chance they may return to the streets, which is why we also provide livelihood assistance,” she added.
The DSWD said it continues to monitor beneficiaries to ensure that the interventions lead to long-term economic stability.
“We in the DSWD are deeply committed to pulling these families out of poverty and giving them a genuine chance to rebuild their lives in a secure environment, and we hope this becomes a pathway for their recovery,” Dumlao said. MOISES CRUZ
