By Zaldy De Layola
MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will focus on policies and activities that will highlight family resiliency, youth empowerment, and inclusive development of marginalized and vulnerable sectors, in this year’s Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Council discussions.
DSWD chairs the ASCC this year. The Philippines is chairman of ASEAN this year. The ASCC forum will have “Rise Again” for its theme. DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian will chair the forum.
Gatchalian said the forum theme, RISE (AGAIN), is an acronym of the DSWD’s vision for its 2026 ASCC chairmanship -– Resilient and empowered families; Inclusive development; Smart youth and innovation; and Environmentally sustainable and food secure future.
In a news release Friday, the DSWD said it will push for activities and outcome documents that are intended to nurture families as the foundation of society.
In terms of inclusive development, the DSWD said the substantive discussions in the ASCC Council meetings must be beneficial for the welfare and development of marginalized and vulnerable sectors, including children, indigenous peoples, women, elderly persons, and persons with disabilities. In addition, it will also focus on active youth participation.
For the thematic focus on environmentally sustainable and food secure future, DSWD said it will highlight the need to improve collaboration among member states and other development partners in terms of climate resilience, food security, and disaster response.
In a media forum Thursday, DSWD Undersecretary for Policy and Planning, Adonis Sulit, said the ASCC is one of the three pillars of the ASEAN Community that focuses on improving the quality of life of people.
“The theme of the ASCC pillar is people empowerment. It means empowering the ASEAN people by fostering social inclusion, protecting vulnerable groups, and promoting a sense of shared identity and community,” he explained.
“When we talk about disaster response, it should not be mainly the Philippines, it should not be mainly the region or the ASEAN member states. We should also try to encourage participation by development partners,” Sulit added. (With PNA)