Today, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will give recognition to its employees who have rendered long years of loyal public service to the agency. On the occasion of its  67th Anniversary Celebration with the theme, “Walang Puwang sa Katiwalian ang Paglilingkod Nang Tapat sa Bayan.” the employees will be given Loyalty and Gawad Kalihim Awards during a ceremony at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.

DSWD employees who have rendered 10-40 years of public service will be recognized through the Loyalty Awards, which aims to acknowledge the unwavering commitment of personnel in delivering excellent results in their long years of public service.

Meanwhile, the Gawad Kalihim Awards will be given by the Office of the Secretary to long-time Contract of Service (COS) or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) workers who have served the Department for 15 years and more.

While they do not enjoy the same benefits as regular or permanent employees and their tenure is not considered government service, COS or MOA workers play a very important role in the agency’s efforts to accomplish its goals.

The Gawad Kalihim Awards, which was first introduced last year, is an affirmation that the Department acknowledges the invaluable contributions of its employees in its continued provision of ‘maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo’ and ‘serbisyong walang puwang sa katiwalian’ to the Filipino people.

Also during the ceremony, the DSWD will confer the Knowledge Management Productivity, Recognition, Innovation, and Development for Effectiveness (KM PRIDE) Awards to three DSWD Field Offices (FO) for promoting knowledge management in the workplace. The three field offices will be given the 1st-3rd places, while one will be awarded the Best Social Welfare and Development Learning Network.

An Office/Bureau/Service at the Central Office will also receive the Best in Knowledge Management Award.

DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel A. Leyco lauded the efforts of each employee of the Department and encouraged them to continue to provide genuine public service to the Department’s clientele.

“I have always been proud of the employees of the DSWD as I have seen their dedication and strong commitment to providing excellent government service to the people that we serve—the poorest of the poor, the vulnerable, and the disadvantaged Filipinos,” OIC Leyco said.

“No matter what kind of job you perform under the DSWD, please know that your labor is not in vain as every task you accomplish helps the Department achieve its strategic goals, which include helping to alleviate the lives of the poor from poverty. I urge you, my fellow public servants to uphold the principle of honesty and integrity, and to continue to provide dedicated public service to our clients as the DSWD turns another year older this year,” the Officer-in-Charge ended.  ##