MANILA,  Philippines – An Ulat ng Bayan survey conducted by Pulse Asia showed the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) as among the top-performing government agencies.

The results from the firm’s Ulat ng Bayan survey from December 3 to 8, 2019 claimed the agency received an 85 percent approval rating for its performance.

DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said they received a copy of the report from Pulse Asia on Tuesday.

A report from the PNA, quoted Pulse Asia as saying the DSWD and the Department of Education (DepEd) were recognized as “top performers among all government agencies included in the survey”.

Dumlao said the copy of the results is “strictly confidential” and shall only be shared with “expressed, written approval of Pulse Asia”.

In a statement, the agency said the high approval may be attributed to the prompt and compassionate delivery of its social protection programs.

This also means that the programs and services of the Department have a trickle-down effect and are being felt, especially by those at the grassroots level.

The department’s high-performance rating is also a concrete manifestation of the recognition by the National Economic Development Authority that its social protection programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens, and the Unconditional Cash Transfer Program contributed to the reduction of poverty incidence from 23.3 percent in 2015 to 16.6 percent in 2018.

Recognizing the performance of DSWD in delivering social protection programs that contribute to the reduction of poverty is an affirmation that its efforts to improve the lives of the poor, marginalized and vulnerable Filipinos are gaining traction.

Improving the well-being of poor families is among DSWD’s thrusts and priorities for this year which are consistent with the Philippine Development Plan and which support the priority agenda of the administration of reducing poverty and empowering the poor and vulnerable sectors.

The DSWD also continues with its efforts of converging with different government agencies and stakeholders to win the battle of reducing poverty incidence to 14 percent by 2022. (IAMIGO/Currentph.com with reports by PNA)