Focus on Orphaned and Abandoned Children in Marawi Highlights Philippine Efforts on Social Cohesion
June 26, 2025 | Singapore — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) represented the Philippines in the 2025 International Conference on Cohesive Societies (ICCS) and its side event, the Forum for Regional Communities of Success (FOCUS), held from June 23 to 26 in Singapore.
Undersecretary Fatima Aliah Dimaporo of the DSWD’s Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs led the delegation, presenting the agency’s flagship initiative, Project Riayah, which aims to address the critical needs of vulnerable children in conflict-affected areas of Marawi City.
Speaking on behalf of DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Undersecretary Dimaporo highlighted that Project Riayah was developed in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect society’s most at-risk groups. The initiative focuses on improving the welfare of orphaned, abandoned, and neglected children, particularly those living in torils—informal community shelters typically run by religious leaders such as ulama and asatizah.
“When the DSWD launched Project Riayah, it illuminated the critical opportunity to provide holistic support and sustained effort to conflict-affected Muslim communities,” Dimaporo told the international audience at FOCUS. “Many of the youth in these communities are out-of-school, orphaned, or abandoned, and rely on unregulated, informal care structures.”
Project Riayah envisions transforming these informal safety nets into formal, sustainable systems that align with Islamic values and uphold national child welfare standards. Central to the initiative is the creation of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs) registered and licensed by the DSWD to serve as community hubs for child and youth development.
The project also seeks to strengthen the professional development of religious leaders involved in caregiving and education, while promoting social cohesion within the toril communities. Through an institutionalized Riayah network, the DSWD aims to deliver accessible social protection and structured community services across Muslim communities in the country.
“Project Riayah emerges as an innovative and strategic approach to establish vital community hubs—centers of community, as termed in the Communities of Success Programme,” Dimaporo said. “Through the SWDA system, the DSWD can deliver structured and culturally responsive interventions tailored for diverse Muslim communities.”
The ICCS and FOCUS events gathered global leaders, practitioners, and experts to share models and strategies that build cohesive and resilient communities. The Philippine participation underscored the government’s ongoing efforts to integrate peacebuilding, religious values, and child welfare in addressing post-conflict recovery and community development.