23/10/2026
TODAY | DSWD, NCDA Island CAREvan Connects Children in Dinagat Islands to Assessment and Therapy Services
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in partnership with the National Council on Disability Affairs (NCDA), conducted the first day of the Island Children’s Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Empowerment Caravan (CAREvan) in the Province of Dinagat Islands at the Provincial Guest Center, Capitol Grounds, in San Jose to assess the developmental needs of children aged 0–5 and connect them with appropriate interventions and support services.
The activity was led by NCDA Executive Director Glenda Relova and DSWD Assistant Secretary for Community Engagement Ulysses Hermogenes Aguilar, highlighting the agencies’ commitment to bringing essential developmental services closer to children and their families.
Following registration, profiling, and social assessment, the 51 child beneficiaries underwent triage and multidisciplinary assessment facilitated by a team composed of clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and physiotherapists. The assessments helped identify each child’s developmental needs and determine appropriate interventions and referrals.
Potential interventions include Parent/Caregiver Counseling and Education, the development of individualized CARE Plans, and referrals for physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, depending on the assessment results and the needs of each child.
To ensure continuity of care beyond the assessment, NCDA committed to shouldering five months of therapy sessions for the children, while the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands pledged to cover an additional six months. This commitment provides a total of 11 months of therapy support, strengthening the opportunity for children to receive sustained interventions suited to their developmental needs.
Qualified beneficiaries also received ₱3,000 each in cash relief assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program to help address their immediate needs. The assistance is intended to support the beneficiaries’ needs for three months.
Through the Island CAREvan, DSWD, NCDA, and the Provincial Government of Dinagat Islands are strengthening collaborative efforts to make developmental assessment, therapy, and family support more accessible to children who need them. By combining professional assessment with sustained therapy assistance, the initiative seeks to help children reach their full developmental potential and improve their quality of life.
