South Cotabato, Philippines — The Provincial Government of South Cotabato, through the Office of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer (OPSWDO), continues to provide social welfare assistance to constituents across the entire province, ensuring that help remains accessible to those in need regardless of district.
Provincial Social Welfare and Development Officer Sonia Bautista emphasized that Gov. Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr., ordered that the assistance provided by the provincial government is not limited to a specific area, as clients from the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd districts are all accommodated at the Provincial Government Office.
“We do not limit the people we cater to. Our assistance is province-wide, covering clients from all districts who come to us for help,” Bautista said.
She explained that the amount and type of assistance given to clients undergoes a thorough assessment by licensed social workers, ensuring that support is appropriate and responsive to each case.
“The assistance we provide depends on the assessment of our social workers and the actual hospital or medical bill of the client,” she added.
According to Bautista, the provincial government can cover up to a maximum of 10 percent of a client’s bill.
For cases involving larger expenses, clients are referred to partner agencies such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH) for additional support.
“If the bill is too large, we coordinate with our partner agencies. The social worker’s assessment is always the primary basis, considering that our funds are limited and must sustain operations throughout the year,” Bautista explained.
Bautista also expressed optimism that the province will be able to assist more beneficiaries in the coming period.
She shared that in the previous year alone, the OPSWDO assisted in 9,508 medical cases, 6,728 hospital cases, 756 burial assistance cases, and 297 financial assistance beneficiaries.
The Provincial Government of South Cotabato remains committed to delivering people-centered social services, ensuring that limited resources are maximized to reach as many constituents as possible while maintaining fairness and accountability in the distribution of assistance.
