Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Tuesday commended the dedication and selfless acts of social workers to help families affected by disasters.

“The engagement of social workers is crucial at all stages in disaster response management, from mitigating its devastating effects through providing humanitarian aid during response efforts, to providing psychosocial interventions to help those affected in rebuilding their lives. Even when their families are also affected by calamities, social workers step out of their homes to help those in utmost need,” Gatchalian said in his speech during the hybrid celebration of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Social Work Day.

He lauded the newly launched Regional Guidance for ASEAN Member States on the Role of Social Workers and the wider Social Service Workforce in Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Resilience (DRRCR), which integrates the role of social workers and the wider social service workforce in policies and plans on DRR and climate change adaptation.

The policy document outlines key measures and actions essential for achieving the priority areas provided in the roadmap to implement the Ha Noi Declaration on Strengthening Social Work Towards a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community –the first regional framework adopted by ASEAN State Leaders for the strengthening, recognition, and advancement of social work in the ASEAN.

The Regional Guidance not only seeks to enhance awareness of social workers’ roles but also advocates for stronger institutional support, ensuring that social workers are equipped to handle the growing complexities of disaster scenarios linked to climate change.

“This is another milestone in our collective work as a united ASEAN body and a breakthrough recognition of the role that social workers play in the overall disaster response management of every nation,” Gatchalian said.

Also present to express their support to the new policy document were Ambassador Agus Widjojo of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia; Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony of the Embassy of Malaysia; Ambassador Constance See of the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore; Ambassador Lai Thai Binh of the Embassy of the Republic of Vietnam; Ambassador Sonexay Vannaxay of the Embassy of Lao People’s Democratic Republic; and Ambassador San Yu Kyaw of the Embassy of Myanmar.

The event was also attended by United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Philippines Ad Interim Country Representative Behzad Noubary, ASEAN Social Work Consortium (ASWC) Philippines Chairperson Dr. Glady Bunao, and Deputy Secretary General of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM) of Cambodia Prak Kim Hong.

Secretary-General for ASEAN Kao Kim Hourn also provided the keynote message for the celebration.

The event carried the theme: “Recognizing the Vital Role of Social Workers in DRRCR”. (PNA)