On the occasion of its 61st foundation anniversary, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will recognize and reward employees who have made an extraordinary contribution to the fulfilment of the Department’s mission, vision and goals through the Program on Awards and Incentives for Service Excellence (PRAISE), to be held today, January 27, 2012 at the DSWD Central Office, Batasan Hills, Quezon City.

Annually, the DSWD honors its best managers, technical workers, and administrative support staff through the PRAISE awards. The PRAISE awards are accorded to officials and employees who have rendered outstanding performance in their respective jobs. “This year’s nine (9) PRAISE awardees are being recognized for their positive behavior and work attitude, as well as integrity as public servants, on top of their excellent performance, “Secretary Soliman explained.

This year’s  PRAISE awardees are: Director Arnel B. Garcia of Region II for Best Manager; Assistant Regional Director Prescila N. Razon of Region XI for Best Assistant Manager; Ms. Fatima S. Caminan of Region IX for Best Division Chief, Technical Category; Ms. Maribel M. Blanco of Region III for Best Division Chief, Support Category; Mr. Fidel L. Empeynado of Region IX for Best Social Worker, Center-Based; Mr. Arwin O. Razo of Region V for Best Technical Staff, Professional; Mr. Jorge B. Dolatre of NCR for Best Technical Staff, Sub-Professional;  Ms. Ma. Eva E. Avila of Region IX for Best Support Staff, Professional; and Ms. Juanita G. Infante of Region III for Best Support Staff, Sub-Professional.

Among his many achievements, Director Garcia made Region II a haven of national awardees for the Presidential Award for Child Friendly Municipalities and Cities. Because of his efforts, the Regional Sub-committee for the Welfare of Children (RSCWC) in the region became the most functional committee mainstreaming Child 21 in almost all local government units in the entire region.

Likewise, he is an innovator when it comes to disaster preparedness and recovery program, conceptualizing and effectively implementing the Disaster Recovery Program in Cagayan Valley.

Assistant Regional Director Razon, is credited for sustaining the replication of KALAHI-CIDSS in Compostela Valley through Governor Arturo T. Uy. She is also responsible for forging a strong public-private partnership for poverty reduction by organizing the Regional Public-Private Partnership for Poverty Reduction Technical Working Group.

Ms. Caminan, Social Welfare Officer V at the Area Vocational Rehabilitation Center (AVRC),   has conducted intensive information dissemination, advocacy campaign and lobbying with partners and other stakeholders which resulted in the increase of PWD - clients referred by the LGUs to the center to develop their skills and potentials as contributing members of the community.

Moreover, Ms. Caminan was also responsible for putting up the VISTA Massage Clinic, a facility operated by the clients of the AVRC III, and for encouraging the Municipality of Lapuyan to set up a Livelihood Center for the Physically Disabled Persons where eight of her graduates are now gainfully employed.

Ms. Blanco, Chief Administrative Officer initiated and synchronized the management of funds in the Region and initiated the crafting of various  guidelines with regard to different processes such as  procurement, human resource management and development, financial and administrative management.

Mr. Empeynado, Social Welfare Officer II, at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for the Youth (RRCY) in Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte, institutionalized four core activities in the center, namely; Weekly Case Conference, Quarterly Parent Group Meetings, Annual Dental Mission, Annual Tree Planting Activity. Likewise, clients handled by Mr. Empeynado showed remarkable changes in social functioning which then eased up family and community reintegration.

Mr. Razo, SWO IV is also a Lakas ng Karakter awardee. He has wide exposure to the different projects and programs of the Department such as Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan-Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS),  Poder Y Prosperidad dela Comunidad (PODER), Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) and Senior Citizens and applies KALAHI-CIDSS techniques and strategies to the Planning Unit and continues to seek further education for his personal and professional growth.

Mr. Dolatre, Houseparent I at Elsie Gaches Village (EGV), DSWD – NCR has instilled positive attitude and discipline among the children at EGV in a proper and professional manner.  He exhibits full knowledge and expertise in doing his tasks, initiated improvements in existing policies such as retention of medicine labels ensuring provision of proper medicines to special children. Because of his exemplary work attitude, he continues to be one of the top 10 Best Performers of EGV, Best Houseparent of DSWD - NCR for 2010 and a consistent awardee for Complete Attendance for 2010 and half of 2011.

Ms. Avila, a psychologist at the Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY) in Anastacio, Polanco, Zamboanga del Norte, is responsible for the institutionalization of the Therapeutic Community Program (TCP) which greatly helped the rehabilitation team in the behavior management and modification among children in conflict with the law (CICL).

A focal person for the Integrity Development Action Plan (IDAP), she also initiated the Parents Group Meeting (PGM), one of the innovative activities of Regional Rehabilitation Center for Youth (RRCY).

Ms. Infante, Social Welfare Assistant of DSWD Field Office III is the regional focal person for PWDs and Senior Citizens sectors.  An enthusiastic and dedicated worker, she often served as resource person to different local social welfare development offices (LSWDOs) considering her competence as technical person with the elderly and PWDs.

Meanwhile, aside from the PRAISE awards, DSWD will also bestow loyalty awards to 45 officials and employees who have rendered 10 to 45 years of dedicated service to the Department.

This year’s theme is “DSWD @ 61: Tuloy-Tuloy sa Kaunlaran.” ### (DSWD-Social Marketing Service) January 27, 2012