Leading the Public Toward a More Resilient Philippines

Every year, the Philippines faces a barrage of natural disasters, including typhoons, floods, and earthquakes, which threaten lives, properties, and livelihoods. Situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire and bearing the brunt of climate change, the nation has become exceptionally disaster-prone. For the second consecutive year, the World Risk Report 2023 has ranked the Philippines as the highest disaster risk country among 193 countries worldwide.

As the country observed National Disaster Resilience Month (NDRM) last July, it is important to recognize the crucial role of leaders and public servants who work tirelessly behind the scenes to safeguard the lives and well-being of Filipinos during calamities, emergencies, and other hazardous events. They are the ones securing the future of the country by strengthening our preparedness today.

Among the public servants determined to ensure the country’s resilience and continued development is Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Disaster Response Management Bureau Director Michael Cristopher R. Mathay.

PUBLIC SERVICE IN HIS VEINS

While many recognize him as the brother of actresses Ara Mina and Cristine Reyes, Mathay is also a dedicated leader, guiding his agency and the Filipino people toward greater resilience.

Public service runs deep in Mathay's family. His grandfather, Mel Mathay, served as mayor of Quezon City from 1992 to 2001, and his father, Chuck Mathay, had a distinguished career as a congressman. Despite this legacy, Mathay carved his own path in a different city.

Growing up in San Juan City, Mathay attended Xavier School in Greenhills. His community-oriented upbringing influenced his early career decision to serve as a director of the North Greenhills Homeowners Association, where he later became president and chairman. Inspired by his family's legacy in local politics, he transitioned into public service, successfully running for barangay kagawad (councilman) in Greenhills, San Juan. After one term as kagawad, he was elected city councilor.

During his tenure, Mathay demonstrated his commitment to the city by authoring several impactful ordinances. He lobbied for the creation of designated bike lanes and the implementation of strict speed limits in the city. Additionally, his initiatives included mandates for establishments to provide first aid kits and breastfeeding stations, requirements for dog owners to tag their pets, and ensured free PhilHealth membership for indigent citizens of San Juan.

“After my last term [as councilor], I couldn’t run for the same position so I decided to serve in the national government. The DSWD was my destiny. I never thought I would end up in DSWD [but] God has a purpose for all of us so here I am,” Mathay shares on his transition from electoral politics to holding an appointive position in a government agency.

Mathay reveals that his family wholeheartedly supported his decision to pursue a new career path. Coming from a tightly knit family, he cherishes holidays and family occasions as opportunities for bonding and catching up. Despite his shift from being a councilor to a DSWD official, his family stood by him, offering invaluable advice and affirmations.

He fondly shares how his sister, Ara, supported him throughout his campaigns, while he, in turn, assisted the vulnerable through her foundation. The unwavering support from his family has been a constant source of strength and motivation in his public service journey.

“DISASTER GUY”

As director of the DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau, Mathay spearheads the agency’s efforts in responding to the needs of families and communities affected by disasters across the country. He shares, “I sometimes joke that I am the “Disaster Guy” because anything related to disaster is my role in DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau—from natural disasters to manmade or humaninduced disasters like armed conflict and fire.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, they led the distribution of the famous ayuda packs to the public: food packs consisting of six kilos of rice, eight canned goods, four sachets of coffee, and four sachets of choco malt drink together with nonfood items such as hygiene kits, sleeping kits, and kitchen kits. In 2022, a shear line and the Northeast Monsoon triggered disaster response operations to affected families in Region X. Mathay personally led the distribution of financial assistance, food packs, and potable water to 1,000 families who were displaced by floods and heavy rainfall.

He also shares that in an effort to provide a more dependable mode of communication during disasters, the agency recently introduced the Mobile Command Center. This initiative aims to address communication challenges during disaster or emergency operations by establishing a direct link from the disaster-stricken area to the Regional Operations Center (ROC), Disaster Response Command Center (DRCC), or the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council (RDRRMC).

SHIFTING FROM LOCAL TO NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

Things weren’t always easy for Mathay. Reflecting on his initial months in office, he describes the experience as life-changing. Transitioning from local government, where the scale of service and scope of responsibility were more manageable, he found himself navigating a steeper terrain. The technicalities of his new role demanded that he quickly familiarize himself with new procedures and protocols. At one point, he even used up an entire ballpoint pen’s ink in a single day, taking down notes: a testament to the intensity and dedication required in his new position.

Reflecting on his experience, Mathay remarks, “From experience, we don’t have a magic wand that you can just wave around to make things happen instantly. You have to consider the process of doing things; go through the process vigilantly,” he adds.

Despite these initial hurdles, Mathay appreciates how his political background and knowledge helped him grasp departmental workings and navigate processes effectively, noting the familiarity with working in the city government but on a larger scale.

He acknowledges that the career shift from local official to national government agency top brass changed his perspective on public service, thanks to the agency’s dedicated employees. “I think I’m a better person now. I am working and learning at the same time from the best social workers who have dedicated their lives to public service,” he remarks.

Mathay has indeed evolved into a steadfast and determined official at the DSWD. In early 2024, he spearheaded the implementation of Project LAWA (Local Adaptation to Water Access) and Project BINHI (Breaking Insufficiency through Nutritious Harvest for the Impoverished), initiatives aimed at assisting farmers and fishermen affected by the El Niño phenomenon. These projects provide beneficiaries with extensive training in disaster risk reduction, climate adaptation, and practical skills such as water harvesting, gardening, vermicomposting, and hydroponics.

Simultaneously managing assistance for El Niño-affected provinces and preparing for La Niña, Mathay, alongside DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian and other officials, coordinated the distribution of food packs and non food relief items to typhoon-prone areas and provinces expected to be heavily impacted by La Niña.

In 2023, Mathay joined representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, the local government of Midsayap, and the provincial government of Cotabato to witness the signing of a memorandum of understanding on disaster response. This agreement, formalized between DSWD Field Office-12 Director Loreto Cabaya Jr. and Midsayap Mayor Rolando Sacdalan, marked a significant step for DSWD’s initiative, "Building on Social Protection for Anticipatory Action and Response in Emergencies and Disasters" (B-SPARED). This pilot initiative aims to prepare communities ahead of floods through multipurpose cash assistance and livelihood protection for poor and vulnerable households.

EMPOWERING FILIPINOS THROUGH DSWD

Reflecting on his motivation to support disadvantaged families, Mathay shares a sentiment inspired by his father: "Ang para sa tao ay para sa tao." (What’s for the people is for the people). He emphasizes sustainable methods over mere handouts to improve the lives of impoverished Filipinos, stating, “One of my hobbies is fishing, and I truly believe in the saying ‘Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day; teach a person to fish and you feed them for a lifetime.’”

The bureau director highlights DSWD's nationwide implementation of the Sustainable Livelihood Program, aimed at building capacities and providing livelihood support to identified poor, vulnerable, and marginalized households and communities. The program includes technical-vocational and life skills training, providing seed capital, giving access to credit and savings facilities, and establishing physical assets for more efficient livelihoods. This comprehensive approach ensures that beneficiaries are equipped with the tools and knowledge necessary for long-term self-sufficiency and economic stability.

Asked about the future of social welfare services in the Philippines, Mathay expresses high hopes for the agency's digitalization. "Under the leadership of Secretary Gatchalian, DSWD is advancing to another level with state-of-the-art technology. We are transforming from a traditional DSWD into a more proactive, rather than just reactive, agency," he states.

RESILIENCE AS A BRAND OF LEADERSHIP

Mathay, embodying the qualities of a great leader, praises the competence, knowledge, experience, and training of the mend and women of his bureau, highlighting them as invaluable human resources. He emphasizes the effectiveness of the whole-of-government approach in enhancing service delivery for Filipinos, enabling national agencies to collaborate more efficiently. Additionally, he acknowledges the crucial support of international organizations such as the World Food Programme and the United Nations, recognizing them as essential partners in the Philippine government's mission to achieve a resilient and safe Philippines.

More than anything else, however, Mathay is hopeful that while the agency continues to work on helping Filipinos, the government will also recognize its outstanding workers who make the programs and projects possible. “We always have to keep improving ourselves. I just hope that the government will take care of their employees more in terms of job security and benefits.” Mathay emerges as an inspiration to leaders and civil servants as he advocates tirelessly for a more proactive approach to social welfare amidst evolving challenges. Under his leadership, the DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau is forging ahead with renewed vigor, and his own story of resilience fuels his determination to improve the lives of Filipinos and bolster resilience nationwide. His vision for a more responsive and supportive government underscores his unwavering belief in a brighter, more secure future for all.