“We should not fear change. Embrace the change and may this new beginning continue (pertaining to doing development together with the people for poverty alleviation),” Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Sec. Corazon “Dinky” Soliman said during the recently held “Consultation Dialogue with Sec. Dinky” at Kultura Splash Wave Resort, Pugo, La Union attended by delegates from DSWD Field Offices 1, 2, 3, and Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).

With the ongoing transition for the incoming administration, Sec. Dinky met with the four regions to discuss the journey DSWD took for the previous six years and thank the staff for their commitment and dedication.

Sec. Dinky recalled that DSWD used to be in the bottom in terms of budget priority but is now one of the top five agencies with the highest budget allocation because the DSWD employees have shown quality service in addressing poverty.

By June 30, Sec. Dinky will already turnover her position to incoming DSWD Sec. Judy Taguiwalo. Even though she will no longer be involved in the Department, she is still willing to help the next administration and her remaining DSWD colleagues since addressing poverty takes time.

“We do not want to see them (next administration) fail. Their success means continuing growth and reduced poverty,” she added.

Further, Sec.Dinky informed her DSWD co-workers who attended the dialogue to continue the convergence that everyone created not only within the Department but beyond DSWD since convergence is the most important delivery mechanism in helping the poor and the vulnerable sectors. (by: Jaymante Pearl B. Apilado, Administrative Assistant III, NHTS-PR/Listahanan)