Push Admin

Marcos Jr. picks Rex Gatchalian as new DSWD secretary

Article (news)

Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Presidential Communications Office screengrab" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/news/01/31/20230131-rex-gatchalian.jpg"/><figcaption><em>Presidential Communications Office screengrab</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>MANILA (UPDATE) - President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed Valenzuela City First District Rep. Rex Gatchalian as the new head of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, Malacañang said Tuesday. </p><p>A video shared by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) showed Marcos leading Gatchalian&#x27;s oath-taking in the Palace. </p><p>&quot;I just took my oath as head of DSWD. Mr. President, thank you for giving me the opportunity to be able to serve the country in a much larger capacity,&quot; Gatchalian said on Twitter.</p><p>He assured his constituents in Valenzuela it will be &quot;business as usual&quot; and that &quot;a caretaker will be appointed by the House of Representatives in the coming days.&quot;</p><p>In a statement, the DSWD welcomed Gatchalian&#x27;s appointment, saying the agency&#x27;s workforce will support and work with its new secretary to perform its mandate.</p><p>&quot;The DSWD workforce commits to work with the newly appointed Secretary in ensuring that the mandate of the Department is carried out effectively, efficiently and economically,&quot; it said.</p><p>&quot;The DSWD community supports the President in appointing Secretary Gatchalian to lead the Department in its pursuit of compassionate public service with respect for human dignity, integrity and service excellence,&quot; it added.</p><p>Gatchalian succeeds former journalist Erwin Tulfo, who was bypassed by the Commission on Appointments last year following <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/22/22/dswd-chief-tulfo-grilled-over-love-life-us-citizenship-libel">questions</a> on his US citizenship and his previous libel convictions.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/27/22/marcos-designates-ex-journo-as-dswd-oic-palace">Marcos designates Edu Punay as DSWD OIC: Palace</a></li></ul><p>Until Gatchalian&#x27;s appointment, the DSWD was headed by its Undersecretary for Special Projects, Eduardo &quot;Edu&quot; Punay. Marcos appointed the former journalist as officer-in-charge of the agency late last month.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/12/27/22/marcos-designates-ex-journo-as-dswd-oic-palace">Marcos designates Edu Punay as DSWD OIC: Palace</a></li></ul><p>The Palace lauded Gatchalian&#x27;s achievements as a local chief executive, noting the inclusion of Valenzuela in the Top 10 Outstanding Local Governance Programs in Galing Pook in 2021. </p><p>&quot;Nakilala rin si Mayor Rex para sa mga programang nailunsad para sa social protection at disaster response,&quot; it said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/12/22/rex-gatchalian-back-in-congress-after-running-unopposed">Rex Gatchalian back in Congress after running unopposed</a></li></ul><p>Gatchalian, brother of Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/05/12/22/rex-gatchalian-back-in-congress-after-running-unopposed">returned</a> to the House of Representatives in May last year after running unopposed in the race for Congress for the first District of Valenzuela.</p><p>He also served as a Congressman during the 14th and 15th Congress.</p><div><script src="https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js#xfbml=1&amp;version=v2.5" async="" type="text/javascript"></script></div><div class="fb-post" data-href="https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3460495094223207&amp;ref=sharing%3E" data-width="auto"> </div>

President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. appointed Valenzuela City First District Rep. Rex Gatchalian as the new DSWD Secretary, Malacañang said Tuesday.

Marcos Jr. picks Rex Gatchalian as new DSWD secretary

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Traffic

Manila

Horoscope

News

Marcos Jr. picks Rex Gatchalian as new DSWD secretary

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 31, 2023 07:20 PM PHT

|

Updated Jan 31, 2023 09:47 PM PHT

Read More:

DSWD

Rex Gatchalian

new DSWD secretary

DSWD secretary 2023

Rex Gatchalian new secretary

Department of Social Welfare and Development

Gatchalian

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2025 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.