GENERAL ASSEMBLY

PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF SOCIAL WORKERS (PASWI), ILOILO CHAPTER

“Meeting the Challenges of Present Times”

By:

Acting Secretary CELIA CAPADOCIA-YANGCO

Department of Social Welfare and Development

A PLEASANT MORNING TO EVERYONE.  IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE WITH COLLEAGUES IN THE HELPING PROFESSION.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING ME PART OF THIS TIMELY EVENT, WITH A THEME THAT IS EQUALLY APT IN THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS BESETTING THE MAJORITY OF FILIPINOS. I HOPE THAT THROUGH THIS, YOU WILL INDEED RENEW YOUR COMMITMENT AS SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS TO DELIVER SERVICES  SMARTER, BETTER, FASTER --- TOGETHER !. 

THE CHALLENGES IN OUR MIDST

THE ADVENT OF GLOBAL CHALLENGES AND THE EMERGENCE OF SOCIAL ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY AND INDIRECTLY IMPACT ON OUR DISADVANTAGED AND POOR POPULATIONS ARE AMONG THE REASONS WHY THE SOCIAL WORKERS TRIBE.  

THERE IS A GROWING CRISIS WORLWIDE AND WE FACE MANY GLOBAL CHALLENGES TODAY.   HENCE, THERE IS ALSO A GROWING UNDERSTANDING OF THE INTER-CONNECTION OF THESE PROBLEMS. 

FROM CONFLICT TO POPULATION INCREASE, FROM RESOURCE DEPLETION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - THESE CHALLENGES ARE INTERCONNECTED.  WE CANNOT TACKLE THEM IN ISOLATION. EACH THREATENS TO PUSH MORE PEOPLE INTO POVERTY AND HUNGER. 

ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS UNDERLINE THE SHEER EXTENT OF OUR INTERDEPENDENCE TODAY.  THE PAST DECADE HAS SHOWN US IN THE STARKEST TERMS THE CONSEQUENCE OF GLOBALISATION: THAT SURELY WE WILL SINK OR SWIM TOGETHER IN PLANET EARTH,  FOR ALONG WITH THE OPPORTUNITY THAT HAS LIFTED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE OUT OF POVERTY, WE HAVE ALSO SEEN A GLOBALISATION OF RISK – FROM CRIME, FROM DISEASE, FROM GREED AND INDEED FROM FINANCIAL CONTAGION. 

SO IN TODAY’S INTERDEPENDENT WORLD, THE PLIGHT OF ONE-SIXTH OF HUMANITY IS NO LONGER A PROBLEM THAT REMAINS ‘OUT THERE’. IT IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN.  ACTING TO ADDRESS THIS HUNGER CRISIS IS NOT ONLY A MORAL IMPERATIVE, BUT ALSO IN OUR COMMON INTEREST. 

IN ORDER TO ACT, WE NEED AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE CHALLENGES WE FACE. 

IN 2009, THE PHILIPPINE GOVERNMENT, THE DSWD INCLUDED,         DID A VITAL ROLE IN CUSHIONING THE IMPACT OF THE GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS THROUGH ITS VARIOUS ANTI-POVERTY, ANTI-HUNGER AND LIVELIHOOD PROGRAMS.

THE LAST QUARTER OF 2009 WAS ALSO A TIME FOR RESPONDING TO CALAMITIES AND REBUILDING LIVES AS DSWD EMBARKED ON MASSIVE RELIEF EFFORTS IN METRO MANILA, REGIONS I, II, III, IV- A AND B AND THE CORDILLERA ADMINISTRATIVE REGION (CAR) WHICH WERE HEAVILY DEVASTATED BY TYPHOONS ONDOY, PEPENG, RAMIL AND SANTI.

THE MEN AND WOMEN OF DSWD ROSE UP TO THE CHALLENGE, SIDE BY SIDE WITH SOCIAL WORKERS FROM LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS AND NON-GOVERNMENT ORGANIZATIONS IN RESPONDING TO THE NEEDS OF DISASTER VICTIMS.

THE PROBLEMS THAT CONFRONT THE POOR AND WHAT THEY CALL THE TEEMING UNWASHED IN OUR SOCIETY HAVE NOT CHANGED IN THEIR SERIOUSNESS AND IF IT DOES, IT IS A CHANGE IN THEIR SEVERITY.  THE LESSONS OF ONDOY AND PEPENG STILL HAUNT US AND NOW WE ARE FACED BY EL NIÑO.

THE STORMS OF OUR LIVES AND MUCH MORE OF OUR POOR AND DISADVANTAGED PEOPLE HAVE NOT CALMED.  THEY ARE, PERHAPS MERELY GLEARING AND PACKING UP WITH INCREASED VELOCITY.  THUS, WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BE PASSIVE SPECTATORS.

BASED ON THE 2006 POVERTY STATISTICS OF THE NATIONAL STATISTICAL COORDINATION BOARD, 33 OUT OF 100 FILIPINOS ARE POOR.  THIS TRANSLATES TO 4.7 MILLION POOR FAMILIES IN 2006, A 16% INCREASE FROM 2003.  THE RECENT SOCIAL WEATHER STATION’S SURVEY WHICH SHOWED THAT ONE IN FOUR FAMILIES EXPERIENCED HAVING NO FOOD ON THE TABLE, ASSERTS THAT HUNGER AMONG FILIPINOS WORSENED TO HISTORIC LEVELS. 

SUCH POVERTY IS FURTHER EXACERBATED BY FAST-PACED POPULATION GROWTH, SPREAD OF COMMUNICABLE DISEASES, RAMPANT URBANIZATION, PROLONGED IMPACTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE, AND THE RESIDUAL EFFECTS OF THE FINANCIAL CRISIS THAT SHOOK THE WORLD IN THE PAST TWO YEARS.

THE POPULATION REFERENCE BUREAU’S 2009 WORLD POPULATION DATA SHEET PROJECTS THE PHILIPPINES TO BE THE 10TH MOST POPULOUS COUNTRY BY 2050 WITH 150 MILLION FILIPINOS.  THE CURRENT POPULATION PEGGED AT 92.2 MILLION IS PROJECTED TO INCREASE TO 120.2M BY MID-2020S, TO 150.1M IN 2050, OR AN ESTIMATED 63% POPULATION CHANGE RATE FROM 2009-2050.  

THE PHILIPPINES IS ALSO AMONG THE WORLD’S FASTEST URBANIZING COUNTRIES, AND OVERCROWDED CITIES PRESENT THEIR OWN CHALLENGES.  THE WORLD BANK ESTIMATES THAT THESE URBAN CENTERS WILL CONTINUE TO EXPAND, LARGELY BECAUSE HIGH LEVELS OF RURAL POVERTY ARE PUSHING PEOPLE INTO THE CITIES.  OUTBREAKS OF DISEASES LIKE MALARIA, DENGUE, DIARRHEA, TUBERCULOSIS AND HIV-AIDS ARE NOT FAR BEHIND, FURTHER AGGRAVATING THE ALREADY BLEAK HEALTH SITUATION OF FILIPINOS.  STATISTICS SHOW THAT FIVE OUT OF TEN FILIPINOS DIE WITHOUT RECEIVING MEDICAL ATTENTION, TEN MOTHERS DIE BECAUSE OF PREGNANCY AND CHILDBIRTH-RELATED CASES.

IN ADDITION TO URBAN SPRAWL AND RAPID POPULATION GROWTH, THE COUNTRY ALSO BEARS THE BRUNT OF HIGH COSTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE WHICH HAVE BEEN MANIFESTED BY EXTREME WEATHER OCCURRENCE SUCH AS FLOODS, DROUGHTS, EL NIÑO, FOREST FIRES, AND INCREASE IN TROPICAL CYCLONES.  THE DISASTERS ASSOCIATED WITH CLIMATE CHANGE HAVE CAUSED LOSSES AMOUNTING TO BILLIONS OF PESOS, NOT WITHSTANDING LOSS OF THOUSAND OF LIVES.

ONE OF THE MOST DISASTER PRONE COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD, THE PHILIPPINES’ BEING IN THE PACIFIC RING OF FIRE, MAKES IT HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO TYPHOONS, FLOODS, LANDSLIDES, VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS AND EARTHQUAKES.  TWENTY-TWO (22) OUT OF 300 VOLCANOES ARE ACTIVE.  FIVE (5) OUT OF THE AVERAGE 22 TROPICAL CYCLONES THAT HIT THE PHILIPPINES EVERY YEAR ARE CONSIDERED DESTRUCTIVE.  THE ARCHIPELAGIC NATURE OF THE COASTAL AREAS MAKES THE COUNTRY PRONE TO STORM SURGES AND TIDAL WAVES.  THE HAVOC BROUGHT ABOUT BY THESE DISASTERS FURTHER EXACERBATES THE MISERY AND PREDICAMENT OF OUR ALREADY OVERBURDENED POPULACE.

THE SEVERITY OF POVERTY IN THE PHILIPPINES HAS PROMPTED THE GOVERNMENT, INCLUDING THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT, TO PRIORITIZE PROGRAMS THAT WILL PROVIDE SOCIAL PROTECTION TO THE GREATER MAJORITY OF THE POOR POPULATION.  

ROLES OF SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL AND LOCAL LEVELS IN MEETING THE CHALLENGES

THE REAL TEST OF THE PROFESSION'S CONTRIBUTION LIES IN ITS RESPONSE TO THE COMMUNITIES’ DIVERSE NEEDS.  SOCIAL WORKERS ARE THE FIRST PORT OF CALL FOR FAMILIES IN DISTRESS. MANY SOCIAL SCIENTISTS BELIEVE THAT THE SOCIAL WORK PROFESSION HAS ALWAYS FOCUSED MORE ON THE PROTECTION OF THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE AND THE PROMOTION OF HUMAN RIGHTS ISSUES.  HOWEVER, THE PROFESSION ALSO HAS A CENTRAL ROLE TO PLAY IN THE ATTAINMENT OF NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PRIORITIES SUCH AS THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS. THIS ASSERTION CHALLENGES US TO SERIOUSLY LOOK INTO THE DEVELOPMENTAL ROLE FOR SOCIAL WORKERS.

AS SOCIAL WORK PROFESSIONALS, WE ARE MANDATED TO ADVANCE PRINCIPLES OF SOCIAL JUSTICE BY CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO BE SELF-RELIANT AND MITIGATE AGAINST SOCIAL ILLS LIKE POVERTY, UNEMPLOYMENT, HIGH NUMBER OF ORPHANED AND VULNERABLE CHILDREN, AND HIGH RATES OF ABUSE OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN, ETC. 

YOUR MANDATE AS PROFESSIONALS SHOULD BE TO PROMOTE POLICIES AND PRACTICES THAT DEMONSTRATE RESPECT FOR DIFFERENCE, SUPPORT THE EXPANSION OF CULTURAL KNOWLEDGE AND RESOURCES, ADVOCATE FOR PROGRAMS AND INSTITUTIONS THAT DEMONSTRATE CULTURAL COMPETENCE, AND PROMOTE POLICIES THAT SAFEGUARD THE RIGHTS OF AND CONFIRM EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL PEOPLE.

WITH THESE HERCULEAN TASKS, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO CONTEXTUALIZE THE ROLES OF THE SOCIAL WORKERS IN THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND THOSE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

IN 1991, REPUBLIC ACT 7160, OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE OF 1991, DEVOLVED THE BASIC SERVICES OF THE DSWD TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS.  

THE NATIONAL DSWD’S ROLE IS SUMMARIZED IN ITS MAJOR FINAL OUTPUTS WHICH ARE MEASURES TO DETERMINE THE QUALITY OF SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS, PROJECTS AND SERVICES THAT THE DSWD DELIVERS TO ITS EXTERNAL CLIENTS. THESE ARE:  FORMULATION AND ADVOCACY OF POLICIES, PLANS AND PROGRAMS; STANDARDS SETTING, LICENSING AND ACCREDITATION; PROVISION OF SUPPORT SERVICES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INTERMEDIARIES; SERVICES FOR CENTER-BASED AND COMMUNITY- BASED CLIENTS; FOREIGN ASSISTED AND LOCALLY FUNDED SPECIAL PROJECTS.

WITH THE DEVOLUTION, THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS WERE GIVEN THE POWER TO PROVIDE DIRECT BASIC SERVICES IN THEIR RESPECTIVE LOCALITIES.  THUS, IT IS AUTOMATIC THAT SHOULD A DISASTER HIT THE AREA, THE CONCERNED SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICE TAKES THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND APPROPRIATE INTERVENTION FOR ITS AFFECTED CONSTITUENTS. 

THE NATIONAL DSWD, IN TURN, PROVIDES THE NEEDED AUGMENTATION ASSISTANCE BASED ON THE LGUs REPORT ON THE AFFECTED POPULATION.

AS SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, WE CANNOT BE IMMUNE FROM KNOWING THE IMPACT OF THE POLITICAL ARENA ON PRACTICE. IN DOING THAT, WE ARE CALLED TO ADVOCATE FOR CHANGES IN POLICY AND LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN ORDER TO MEET BASIC HUMAN NEEDS AND PROMOTE SOCIAL JUSTICE.

IN RELATION TO THE DEMANDING TASK EXPECTED OF US, I AM GRATIFIED BY THE RESPONSE OF PASWI TO PROVE EQUAL TO THE CHALLENGE.  YOUR EFFORTS TO ENSURE QUALITY AND RESPONSIBLE SOLUTIONS TO ISSUES AND CONCERNS IN OUR PROFESSION ARE COMMENDABLE. I AM PARTICULARLY ELATED BY YOUR CAMPAIGN FOR A CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM FOR OUR SOCIAL WORKERS.  NOTHING BEATS A HIGHLY QUALIFIED, UPDATED AND WELL-SEASONED PROFESSIONAL IN ANY AREA OF SERVICE. 

AS MANY SAY, PEOPLE IN THE SERVICE OF HUMANITY SHOULD HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.  THAT WE ARE DOING FINE IS NO EXCUSE TO COMPLACENCY.  WE SHOULD SEEK EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO BE A CUT ABOVE THE REST, ESPECIALLY IN A PROFESSION AS DEMANDING AS OURS. 

NATIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE PROGRAMS TO MEET CHALLENGES OF PRESENT TIMES

AS THE LEAD AGENCY MANDATED TO PROVIDE SOCIAL PROTECTION TO THE POOR, VULNERABLE AND DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES AND COMMUNITIES, DSWD IMPLEMENTS SEVERAL SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS AIMED AT REACHING THE POOR HOUSEHOLDS OF THE COUNTRY.

PRESIDENT ARROYO HAS INSTRUCTED THE SETTING UP OF AN UMBRELLA SOCIAL PROTECTION INITIATIVE.  HEADED BY SECRETARY ROMULO NERI, THIS IS CALLED THE NATIONAL SOCIAL WELFARE PROTECTION PROGRAM.  THE FRAMEWORK DEMONSTRATES THE COLLABORATION OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES TO ENSURE A CONVERGENCE OF SERVICES,    THE OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK DIAGRAM OF WHICH IS SHOWN IN SLIDE.

FOR THE DSWD OUR SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS TO PROVIDE SOCIAL PROTECTTION INCLUDE  THE  NATIONAL HOUSEHOLD TARGETING SYSTEM FOR POVERTY REDUCTION (NHTS-PR).  PIONEERED IN 2009, NHTS-PR PROJECT AIMS TO ESTABLISH A UNIFIED, FUNCTIONAL, OBJECTIVE AND TRANSPARENT TARGETING SYSTEM THAT WOULD IDENTIFY THE POOREST, AND WHERE THEY ARE, AS BASIS FOR IDENTIFYING BENEFICIARIES OF SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS. THIS WILL HOPEFULLY INSOLATE THEM FROM THE POLITICS OF POVERTY STATISTICS.  

THE PROJECT WILL COVER THE ENUMERATION OF HOUSEHOLDS FROM 15 CITIES AND 252 MUNICIPALITIES FROM TOP 20 POOREST PROVINCES BASED ON DATA FROM THE NSCB. 

ON ITS INITIAL YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION, THE PROJECT HAS ALREADY ENUMERATED/SURVEYED ABOUT 8.4 M HOUSEHOLDS.  THESE HOUSEHOLDS ARE TO BE SUBJECTED TO THE PROXY MEANS TEST (PMT) – A STATISTICAL FORMULA USED IN DETERMINING THE RANKING, CLASSIFICATION AND PRIORITIZATION OF POOR HOUSEHOLDS.

BY THE END OF 2009,   1,665,503 POOR HOUSEHOLDS OR 52.5% OF THE 3.1 M HOUSEHOLDS TESTED THRU THE PROXY MEANS TESTS WERE IDENTIFIED.

KALAHI-CIDSS OR KAPIT-BISIG LABAN SA KAHIRAPAN – COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED DELIVERY OF SOCIAL SERVICES IS ONE OF THE FLAGSHIP POVERTY ALLEVIATION PROJECTS OF THE GOVERNMENT.  IT SUPPORTS A COMMUNITY-DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT APPROACH WHICH AIMS TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES, IMPROVE LOCAL GOVERNANCE AND REDUCE POVERTY.  KALAHI-CIDSS IS BEING IMPLEMENTED IN 12 REGIONS, 42 PROVINCES AND 184 MUNICIPALITIES.  SINCE IT STARTED IN 2003, KALAHI-CIDSS HAS FUNDED 5,326 COMMUNITY PROJECTS BENEFITING MORE THAN 1.1 M HOUSEHOLDS IN 5,543 BARANGAYS.  THE COMMUNITY PROJECTS ARE BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES SUCH AS CLASSROOMS, DAY CARE CENTERS, WATER SYSTEMS, RURAL HEALTH CENTERS; BASIC ACCESS INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS FARM-TO-MARKET ROADS, PATHWALKS, HANGING BRIDGES, AND SPILLWAYS; AND COMMON SERVICE FACILITIES, SUCH AS RICE AND CORN MILLS, SOLAR DRIERS, AND RICE THRESHERS.  

ANOTHER FLAGSHIP PROGRAM TO BREAK THE INTER-GENERATIONAL CYCLE OF POVERTY IS THE PANTAWID PAMILYANG PILIPINO PROGRAM OR 4Ps.  4Ps IS AN INNOVATIVE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY THAT PROVIDES CASH GRANTS TO EXTREMELY POOR HOUSEHOLDS PROVIDED THEY COMPLY WITH THE PROGRAM’S CONDITIONALITIES.  CONDITIONS ON HEALTH, NUTRITION AND EDUCATION ALLOW HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN 0-14 YEARS OLD, MEET CERTAIN HUMAN DEVELOPMENT GOALS AS ARTICULATED IN THE MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS.  

THE CONDITIONALITIES INCLUDE SENDING THEIR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL AND BRINGING THEM TO HEALTH CENTERS ON A REGULAR BASIS, AND PROVIDING PRE AND POST NATAL CARE AND DELIVERY BY A SKILLED BIRTH ATTENDANT TO PREGNANT WOMEN.

TO DATE, 4Ps BENEFITED 692,798 HOUSEHOLDS’ BENEFICIARIES WHICH ALREADY RECEIVED CASH GRANTS AMOUNTING TO P7.2 B.   THE PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION CURRENTLY COVERS 664 MUNICIPALITIES AND 60 CITIES IN 80 PROVINCES. 

THE SELF-EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE-KAUNLARAN (SEA-K) PROGRAM IS A LIVELIHOOD AND CAPABILITY BUILDING PROGRAM IMPLEMENTED THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS, AIMED AT ENHANCING THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SKILLS OF POOR FAMILIES TOWARDS ESTABLISHING AND MANAGING SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY-BASED CREDIT ORGANIZATION FOR ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT.

A TOTAL OF 1,657 SEA-K LEVEL I (SEA-KAUNLARAN) PROJECTS HAVE BENEFITED 34,502 FAMILIES NATIONWIDE WITH ACCESS TO CREDIT AND DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES.  FUNDS AMOUNTING TO          P171 M HAVE BEEN RELEASED AS SEED CAPITAL.  MOREOVER, 19 SEA-K LEVEL II (SEA-KABAYAN) PROJECTS COVERING 1,205 FAMILIES RECEIVED ADDITIONAL FUNDING OF P18,783,000 AS PROJECTS SEED CAPITAL FOR MICRO-ENTERPRISE, REPAIR OF HOUSES AND HIGHER LEVEL OF ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS.

THE TINDAHAN NATIN PROJECT, WHICH STARTED IN 2006, IS A NATIONAL GOVERNMENT INITIATIVE FOR FOOD SECURITY, JOB GENERATION AND LIVELIHOOD.  IT IS IMPLEMENTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL FOOD AUTHORITY (NFA) AS PART OF THE HUNGER MITIGATION PROGRAM OF THE ARROYO ADMINISTRATION UNDER THE NATIONAL NUTRITION COUNCIL (NNC).  

A TOTAL OF 591 TINDAHAN NATIN OUTLETS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED NATIONWIDE.  ABOUT 7.5 M FAMILIES ARE BENEFITING AND HAVE ACCESS TO LOW PRICED BUT QUALITY RICE AND NOODLES OFFERED BY THESE OUTLETS. 

ANOTHER COMPONENT OF THE ACCELERATED HUNGER MITIGATION PROGRAM OF THE ADMINISTRATION, THE FOOD-FOR-SCHOOL PROJECT PROVIDES FOOD SUBSIDY TO POOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN IN DAY CARE CENTERS TO ADDRESS HUNGER.  WITH A TOTAL FUNDING OF P765 M, A TOTAL OF 502,163 CHILDREN IN 13,788 DAY CARE CENTERS IN 495 CITIES AND MUNICIPALITIES WERE PROVIDED ONE (1) KILO OF RICE FOR AN AVERAGE OF 96 DAYS RICE RATION.

THE HEALTHY START FEEDING PROJECT (HSFP), ON THE OTHER HAND, PROVIDES SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD TO CHILDREN IN DAY CARE CENTERS AGED 3-5.  THE PROJECT COVERS 240 MUNICIPALITIES FROM THE 10 POOREST AND 10 FOOD POOREST PROVINCES IN THE COUNTRY.  FROM THE 500 MILLION TOTAL PROJECT ALLOCATION, P221 M HAVE BEEN UTILIZED FOR THE HOT MEAL FEEDING, WHICH SERVED A TOTAL OF 176,254 CHILDREN AT 5,043 DAY CARE CENTERS. 

THE DEPARTMENT ALSO IMPLEMENTS DISASTER RISK REDUCTION MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES.  THE CORE SHELTER ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, WHICH IS A DISASTER RESPONSE AND MITIGATION STRATEGY, AIMS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES RENDERED HOMELESS BY TYPHOONS THAT HIT THE COUNTRY EVERY YEAR.  THE PROGRAM PROVIDES STRUCTURALLY STRONG SHELTERS.       THE DSWD PROVIDES FUNDS FOR CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS,     THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT UNITS (LGUS) PROVIDES THE LAND AND THE BENEFICIARIES, THE LABOR REQUIREMENTS.                                        THE CALAMITY ASSISTANCE REHABILITATION EFFORT (CARE) PROJECT ALONE FOR TYHPOON REMING WAS ALLOCATED A TOTAL AMOUNT OF P711,990,000  FOR 10,210 SHELTER UNITS. 

ON TOP OF THESE, YOUR NATIONAL DSWD CONTINUES TO MANAGE 62 CENTERS AND INSTITUTIONS NATIONWIDE TO CATER TO OUR CLIENTELE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS: ABANDONED AND NEGLECTED CHILDREN, EXPLOITED AND ABUSED WOMEN, CICL, PWDs, OLDER PERSONS AND OTHER VULNERABLE GROUPS.

A GLIMPSE OF THE DSWD’S REFORM AGENDA

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS, STARTING IN 2008, THE DSWD HAS PROCEEDED FURTHER IN UNDERTAKING ITS REFORM AGENDA UNDER THE NATIONAL SECTOR SUPPORT FOR SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT REFORM PROJECT (NSS-SWDRP).  IT IS A PROJECT WITH THE END GOAL OF ENABLING THE DSWD TO TAKE ON THE LEADERSHIP ROLE IN SOCIAL PROTECTION AND DEVELOPMENT.  THE PROJECT ALSO ENHANCES THE CAPACITY OF THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LGUs, NGOs AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS.

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE REFORM AGENDA NSS-SWDRP ARE: POVERTY REDUCTION BY IMPROVING THE OUTCOMES OF BASIC SOCIAL WELFARE AND DEVELOPMENT SERVICES; IMPROVED GOVERNANCE AND CAPACITY BUILDING; AND EMPOWERING THE POOR AND INCREASING THEIR OPPORTUNITIES.

UNDER THE PROJECT, THE DEPARTMENT’S BATTLECRY IS LEAD TO REFORM AND REFORM TO LEAD THROUGH THE PROVISION OF SMARTER, BETTER, FASTER, DELIVERY OF SERVICES FOR ITS CLIENTELE TOGETHER. 

AREAS OF COLLABORATION BETWEEN DSWD AND PASWI

AS I WENT OVER PASWI’s  HANDOUT, I CONFIRMED THAT INDEED OUR ORGANIZATION IS A WORKING ORGANIZATION OF TIRELESS SOCIAL WORKERS, WHO, THROUGH ITS 47 YEARS HAD PROVEN ITSELF IN TERMS OF ITS BREAKTHROUGHS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

IT IS HEARTENING TO NOTE THAT PASWI WHERE I BELONG AS LIFETIME MEMBER DOES ITS PART TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THE CURRENT SOCIO-ECONOMIC CHALLENGES IN OUR COUNTRY, CALL FOR A REVISIT OF THE TRAINING OF SOCIAL WORKERS. WE NEED THE COOPERATION OF INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING AND OTHER ENTITIES TO RE-LOOK AT OUR TRAININGS AND DEVISE MEANS TO ACCELERATE THE TRAINING OF SOCIAL WORKERS TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR SERVICES. WE ARE STILL BATTLING WITH THE SHORTAGE OF SOCIAL SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, WHICH HINDERS THE SOCIAL WORK FIELD’S ABILITY TO MEET THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR DEVELOPMENTAL SOCIAL SERVICES.

I URGE THE LEADERS OF PASWI TO CONTINUE UPGRADING ITSELF AND ITS MEMBERS TO ATTAIN THE HIGH LEVEL OF PERFORMANCE THAT WE ALL HAVE SET FOR OURSELVES AND THE ORGANIZATIONS. 

CONCLUSION

I WISH YOU WELL IN YOUR DELIBERATIONS.  OUR COMMUNITIES CANNOT CONTINUE TO BE DEPRIVED OF THEIR BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS WHICH IS ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION. WHEN WE SERVE THEM, WE MUST REMEMBER THAT CONCERN FOR OUR FELLOWMEN SHOULD BE THE TOPMOST IN OUR SCALE OF PRIORITIES.  THIS IS THE JOB CUT OUT FOR US.  WE CAN DO NO LESS.

ALL THE BEST TO YOU ALL AND TO PASWI.  I THANK YOU.

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 Keynote Address by DSWD Acting Secretary Celia Capadocia-Yangco during the General Assembly of Philippine Association of Social Workers (PASWI) – Iloilo Chapter (March 3, 2010 – Western Hotel, Iloilo City)