The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has forged a partnership with the University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) and the ASEAN Social Work Consortium-Philippines (ASWC-PH) to strengthen the social work practice in the country through the creation of the DSWD Academy.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, UPOU Chancellor Melinda DP. Bandalaria and the official representatives of ASWC-PH member associations signed the memorandum of agreement (MOA) on Monday as the country celebrates the 2023 Filipino Social Workers’ Day at the Social Welfare and Development Center for the Asia and the Pacific (SWADCAP) Compound in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.

The DSWD Academy is a product of Gatchalian’s innovation intended to improve and develop the skills and knowledge of the Department’s social workers in the delivery of services to the needy.

Under the agreement, the member-organizations of ASWC-PH and the UPOU will serve as the learning service providers for the DSWD Academy as well as partners of the Department in providing technical assistance to social welfare and development intermediaries and other stakeholders.

In his speech during the Social Workers’ Day celebration, Gatchalian said the establishment of the DSWD Academy is just one of their plans to keep Filipino social workers responsive amid the ever-changing landscape of the social welfare practice.

“There has to be a continuing learning facility in the department or in the country that foster specialized training for social workers, continuing learning ninyo, kasi (for you all because) the world does not stop, it keeps on evolving,” he said.

Gatchalian underscored the importance of the Academy in this day and age where “there are new technologies out there in terms of social protection, disaster camp management.”

Part of the Academy’s thrust is the empowerment of social welfare assistants, including those who work at the local government units (LGUs) as social welfare aides, and early childhood development workers, among others, to learn the skill sets of social workers.

“While we are developing and fostering upgraded skills for social workers, we are also empowering social welfare assistants and private individuals who are conducting social work practice,” Gatchalian said.

Expansion of benefits

Aside from learning and development, the DSWD is also advocating for the expansion of the privileges and benefits of social workers.

Assistant Secretary Janet Armas discussed the updates on Republic Act No. 9433, the law which provides for an increase in the compensation and benefits of social workers in the government service.

During the program, Gatchalian expressed his gratitude to the social workers, “who dedicate their lives in making a positive difference in our communities, by ensuring that the social welfare and development programs and services are well-implemented.”

“Our social workers got through all of these things day in and day out but yet, they still do it and they do it with so much love and so much care,” he said.

He led the recognition of exemplary social workers and social work organization during the 2023 Filipino Social Workers Day celebration.

The awards include the 2023 Gawad Parangal Sa Natatanging Manggagawang Panlipunan and Gawad Parangal Sa Natatanging Asosasyon Ng Manggagawang Panlipunan.

The celebration was attended by social workers from across the country and from the different member organizations of ASWC-PH including The National Association for Social Work Education, Inc. (NASWEI), The Association of Local Social Welfare and Development Officers of the Philippines, Inc. (ALSWDOPI) and the Philippine Association of Court Social Workers, Inc. (PACSWI).

Present during the celebration were the representatives from the Association of Child Caring Agencies of the Philippines, Inc. (ACCAP), DOH League of Medical Social Workers (DOH-LMSW), Association of Medical Social Workers of the Philippines (AMSWPI), Association of DSWD Social Workers, Inc (ADSWI), National Council of Social Development (NCSD), and the Area Based Standards Network (ABSNET). (PNA)