By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Acknowledging social workers and social welfare assistants who serve as front liners, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian has disclosed that the agency currently gears toward empowering them by setting standards and providing capacity-building activities.
With this in mind, Gatchalian honored the significant role of social workers in the delivery of social protection packages in the country during the 27th National Social Welfare and Development Forum and General Assembly held on Wednesday (15 May 2024) at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao District.
“If there is a most noble profession, I believe that it is always the registered social workers,” Gatchalian told the more than 2,000 local social welfare and development officers (LSWDOs) and social workers from different local government units (LGUs) who attended the national assembly and forum.
He cited the COVID-19 situation to illustrate the vital role of social workers in ensuring the smooth delivery of social protection programs and services by the government.
“I saw it firsthand… I understand your pain and nauunawaan ko na kayo ang naging reason kung bakit naging matagumpay pa rin ang rollout ng social amelioration,” Gatchalian noted.
In his speech, Gatchalian introduced to the social workers the DSWD Academy as a training camp that provides training courses on social welfare and development, as well as community development.
“The DSWD Academy will run certificate programs. And every time you guys attend these certificate programs that will put the standards that [are] set forth by the Department, it counts towards your CPDs [Continuing Professional Development],” the DSWD chief said.
(el Amigo/MNM)
