DSWD defends P80-K assistance to ‘Rose’

MANILA, Philippines — After receiving numerous brickbats and memes from netizens, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) defended its decision to give P80,000 in livelihood assistance to Rose – the woman who went viral on social media after she was spotted emerging from a  sewer in Makati.

People have been posting jokes on their social media accounts about receiving the same amount of livelihood assistance if they are caught on video getting out of a drainage hole.

One Facebook post suggested an employee earns about P637 a day while Rose instantly got P80,000 by simply going into a sewer.

Sought for comment, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said there is nothing unusual for their department to help poor people such as Rose.

Dumlao said Rose underwent a case management process wherein the latter was interviewed and assessed by social workers.

“When social workers asked Rose what she wants, she said she wants a sari-sari store to start her life over,” Dumlao said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.

Social workers learned Rose earns P300 a day from scavenging while her partner gets P200 daily from being a jeepney barker. The couple used to live on the streets but has since been renting a small space for P2,000 a month.

“Our social workers saw that they know how to budget. We want to build up on those competencies,” Dumlao said.

According to Dumlao, Rose went to the drainage hole to retrieve a blade she uses to sort out the recyclable trash she collects and sells at junk shops.

She added that the scavenger was shocked to see people staring at her when she emerged from the canal. Fearing she would be arrested by law enforcers, Rose ran away.

Apart from livelihood assistance, Dumlao said Rose would undergo a seminar on financial literacy so she can manage her earnings from the sari-sari store.

Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian explained on Friday that the livelihood assistance would be given in tranches, depending on how Rose manage the initial assistance given to her.

“If we see that the business goes well, we will increase the assistance until we reach the whole amount of P80,000,” Gatchalian said.

Rose is among the families and individuals in street situations or FISS being assisted by the DSWD in line with the directive of President Marcos to secure the sector from the dangers of the streets and to provide them with interventions toward a safe and comfortable life.

According to Dumlao, other street dwellers, compared to Rose, got more in livelihood assistance. Among those who got more are poor families who have sought financial assistance from the DSWD to go back to their home provinces and start new businesses.