DSWD: P80,000 given to woman who crawled out of sewer ‘not a reward’
A woman is seen crawling out of a Makati City sewer at the corner of Rufino and Adelantado Streets in Salcedo Village, Barangay Bel-Air on Monday afternoon, May 26, 2025. — Photo from RoughMasterpiecei/Reddit
MANILA, Philippines — Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian has clarified that the P80,000 given to the woman seen crawling out of a sewer in Makati City was “not a reward” but livelihood assistance.
The woman, identified by the alias “Rose,” recently received P80,000 in aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which she used to start a small sari-sari store.
This came after a netizen spotted her crawling out of a sewer at the corner of Rufino and Adelantado Streets in Salcedo Village, Barangay Bel-Air, on May 26.
READ: Woman who crawled out of a sewer to get P80,000 worth of aid – DSWD
Not a reward for a dramatic act
“It is not a reward. I want to clarify that this is part of the reintegrating program in the community,” Gatchalian was quoted as saying in an interview mentioned in the DSWD’s statement on Monday.
“If you just return people to their communities, it will just be repeated. We need to help them have a new hope and start a new life through economic grants,” he added.
The DSWD chief also said that neither he nor the agency determined the amount of livelihood assistance granted to the woman.
READ: Sadako in Makati? Woman crawls out of sewer, stuns onlookers
He clarified that they based the amount on existing guidelines and assessments conducted by Rose’s handling social worker.
“In her recommendation, in her intake, she saw that this was the right intervention for Rose to start over,” he explained.
Gatchalian also emphasized that the DSWD follows specific guidelines on the amount of assistance provided through its programs.
“All of our programs have a set minimum and maximum amount. But all of that, such as our other programs, will first go through a thorough study by our social workers,” he explained./mcm
