BAGUIO CITY (PIA) -- No challenge is too difficult  or obstacle too great   for someone who is determined to reach her dreams.

Janet Armas, the  recently promoted  Assistant Secretary for Policy and Plans of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  proved that through faith and determination, one can achieve success.

Armas, who hails from Tinoc, Ifugao,  said  she did not expect the good news but she is thankful to God for  answered prayers.

"Actually, han ko nga expectaren daytoy gaputa isagsaganak ti bagik kuma nga agsublin ta three years lang jay tour of duty mi ngem daytoy met ti naging resulta. Agyamyamanak kenni Apo Diyos ta daytoy ti resulta jay kararag ko (Actually, I did not expect this; I was preparing to return (DSWD-CAR) because our tour of duty is three years. But this is it, I am thankful to God for answering my prayers)," she stated.

Armas started to work at DSWD in September 1988 as a  welfare worker . Amidst the  obtacles and challenges, she  pursued her career embodying the vision and mission of the Department to help the poor, the vulnerable, and the disadvantaged.

Coming from a poor family herself, she said  it was also her personal desire to assist poor families fulfill their aspirations in life.

"Ti inspirasyon ko ket dejay kapadasak iti rigat ti biag ken iti pamilyak kasi naggapu ak iti maysa a dakkel nga pobre a family ken iti panageskwelak ket talaga nga narigatan ti parents ko. Siyak ket nag-ug-ugasak ti carrot ejay palengke, nag-lunch ak iti tinudok nga banana cue tapnu laeng maituloy ko ti ageskwela. Dagitoy nga kapadasan iti biag ko ket dagitoy iti nang-inspire kenyak nga ituloy ti ageskwela ken agpursige tapnu ad-adu ti matulungak nga poor families, tapnu maikkan da iti oportunidad nga mangpasayaat iti sitwasyon ti kabibiag da (My inspiration is my experience in life and my family because I come from a big, poor family and my parents were challenged in sending me to school. I experienced washing carrots in the market, have 'tinudok' banana cue as my lunch just to continue my studies. These experiences inspired me to pursue my studies so that I can help more poor families, to give them opportunities to improve their lives)," Armas said.

Working in DSWD tested her endurance but her desire to help the needy kept her going. Challenged by    lack of resources at times, she said   they have to find ways to address such and make sure that services will still be delivered to the people.

"Iti panagtrabaho iti DSWD ket masapul a kitaem ti kailangan ti tunggal tao nga umay agpatulong kasi unique ti masapul ti maysa a tao. So dejay ti maysa a challenge nu kasanu nga dagijay polisiya ket ibirokam nga makasungbat wenno jay kailangan dejay tattao a pagserbian (Working in DSWD, you have to look into the need of every person asking for help. That is one of the challenges on how to make the policies cater to needs of the people you are serving)," she disclosed.

Despite doing their best to deliver their services and address concerns of their clients, she admitted that they still receive complaints.

In her more than 30 years of service with the DSWD, Armas has served in various capacities.  She served as Officer-In-Charge Regional Director of DSWD-CAR Field Office for five years before designated   in 2019 as the National Program Manager of Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, one of the poverty reduction programs of the government.

This  dedicated public servant is a mother of three,   who are now all  college graduates. (JDP/DEG-PIA CAR)