Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian commended the dedication and selfless acts of social workers to help families affected by disasters during the hybrid celebration of the ASEAN Social Work Day 2025 on Tuesday (March 25) in Quezon City.
“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, ” Secretary Gatchalian, who also serves as the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting for Social Welfare and Development (AMMSWD) Leader of the Philippines, said in his speech.
The DSWD chief 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), a new policy document integrating the role of social workers and the wider social service workforce in policies and plans on DRR and climate change adaptation.
“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,” the DSWD chief emphasized.
The new regional guidance 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.
Also present to express their support to the new policy document were H. E. Ambassador Agus Widjojo of the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia; H.E. Ambassador Dato Abdul Malik Melvin Castelino Anthony of the Embassy of Malaysia; H.E. Ambassador Constance See of the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore; H.E Ambassador Lai Thai Binh of the Embassy of the Republic of Vietnam; H.E Ambassador Sonexay Vannaxay of the Embassy of Lao People’s Democratic Republic; and, H.E Ambassador San Yu Kyaw of the Embassy of
Myanmar.
The event was also attended by 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 H. E. Prak Kim Hong.
Secretary-General for ASEAN H.E. Kao Kim Hourn also provided the keynote message for the celebration.
Other DSWD officials present at the event were Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay Villar and Asst. Secretary Elaine Fallarcuna of the International Affairs, and Attached and Supervised Agencies; Undersecretary Diana Rose Cajipe and Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group; Undersecretary Vilma Cabrera and Asst. Secretary Marites Maristela of the Conditional Cash Transfer Group; and Asst. Secretary Ada Colico of the Protective Programs under the Operations Group.
The event carried the theme: “Recognizing the Vital Role of Social Workers in DRRCR”. #