DSWD-Davao Eyes Project Aruga Expansion to Digos, Davao City
DAVAO CITY, Philippines — More families caring for children with disabilities in the Davao Region could soon gain access to specialized government support as the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Davao Region (DSWD-Davao) explores expanding Project Aruga to Digos City and parts of Davao City.
The proposed expansion comes after the program reached 150 children with disabilities in Santa Cruz, Davao del Sur, where the initiative has been piloted.
DSWD-Davao officials discussed the expansion during the Kapehan sa Dabaw media forum on September 7, 2026, outlining plans to strengthen referral networks and partnerships for families who need specialized care.
Project Aruga began as a pilot in Santa Cruz
Project Aruga is a DSWD community-based initiative designed to provide disability-inclusive social protection to children with disabilities and their families.
Santa Cruz was selected as the Davao Region pilot site after data from the Department of Health's Philippine Registry for Persons with Disabilities showed that the municipality had the highest number of registered children with disabilities in the region.
The program is intended not only to provide financial assistance but also to connect families with health, education, livelihood and other support services.
Nationally, DSWD describes Project Aruga as a model that combines financial assistance, case management, referrals and caregiver support rather than relying on cash assistance alone.
₱2,000 monthly assistance for beneficiaries
Under the current Davao Region program model, each beneficiary receives a ₱2,000 monthly stipend, distributed in quarterly tranches.
DSWD-Davao project development officer Baby Jean Sarmiento said the amount is intended as additional assistance rather than a complete solution to the expenses associated with caring for a child with a disability.
The support can help families cope with medical needs and daily living expenses, but officials acknowledged that specialized care can impose costs far beyond the monthly allowance.
That is why the planned expansion is not centered solely on increasing the number of beneficiaries.
DSWD seeks care partnerships in Digos and Davao City
One of the major components of the planned expansion is the creation of a stronger referral network.
DSWD-Davao is working to formalize agreements with private facilities that can provide specialized services to children with disabilities, particularly in Digos City and Toril in Davao City.
The agency is processing partnerships with two facilities in Santa Cruz and one in Digos City.
It also maintains referral links with Tebow Cure and the Jubilee Foundation in Davao City.
Families may also receive Guaranteed Letters (GLs) through the DSWD Crisis Intervention Unit to help offset eligible clinical expenses.
The program is about more than money
Project Aruga was designed to address the broader challenges faced by families caring for children with disabilities.
The national DSWD program includes efforts to improve access to healthcare, education, skills development, livelihood, employment and social insurance through stronger links with government and private-sector partners.
The initiative also seeks to improve the registration and assessment of children with disabilities so government agencies can better identify their needs and coordinate services.
As of July 2026, DSWD had enrolled 1,140 families of children with disabilities across nine implementation sites nationwide, including Santa Cruz in Davao del Sur.
Caregivers are also receiving support
Another component of the Davao pilot is strengthening the people who provide day-to-day care.
DSWD-Davao has trained 20 caregivers selected by the Santa Cruz local government to assist parents and families with daily care.
The agency has also started developing community peer-support groups, giving caregivers opportunities to share experiences and support one another.
For families caring for children who require constant supervision, this kind of support can be as important as financial assistance.
Who Project Aruga is designed to help
The Davao initiative focuses particularly on vulnerable households outside the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), including families caring for bedridden children and children who require constant assistance.
The broader national Project Aruga model targets children with disabilities from poor and vulnerable families and seeks to connect them with appropriate social protection and essential services.
The goal is to reduce the burden on families while ensuring that children with disabilities are not left without access to appropriate care.
From Santa Cruz to a wider Davao network
The proposed expansion reflects the government's effort to move Project Aruga beyond its initial pilot areas.
DSWD has previously said the pilot phase was intended to generate practical results that could guide a wider national rollout.
In July 2026, DSWD reported that Project Aruga had already expanded to nine implementation sites nationwide and was serving more than 1,000 families.
The Davao Region's plans to strengthen services in Digos and Davao City would give more families access to the referral network and specialized support being developed through the program.
A bigger safety net for vulnerable families
For parents raising children with disabilities, the cost of care can extend far beyond ordinary household expenses.
Medical consultations, therapy, transportation, assistive services and constant caregiving can place enormous pressure on families, particularly those with limited incomes.
Project Aruga is designed to provide a broader safety net by combining financial support, caregiver assistance, referrals and access to essential services.
If the Davao expansion proceeds, families in Digos City and Davao City could become the next beneficiaries of that support.
The immediate challenge for DSWD-Davao will be turning the proposed partnerships into functioning referral networks—and ensuring that families who need help can actually reach the services available to them.
WWC ONE MEDIA J.M.D