In its effort to ensure a safe, secure, and inclusive environment for its employees and external stakeholders, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) recently conducted an orientation workshop on the Management of Grievance Machinery and Sexual Harassment Complaints in Baguio City from June 18 to 21.

In her opening message, DSWD General Administration and Support Services (GASS) Asst. Secretary Gina Wenceslao said the four-day workshop aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms and procedures in place to efficiently address grievances and complaints of sexual harassment within the agency.

“Moreover, it is imperative that we ensure that our policies are effective, accessible, and well-understood by all personnel, partners, clients, and the general public,” Asst. Secretary Wenceslao said.

Some 55 agency personnel composed of supervisors and middle managers from the DSWD Central Office attended the activity led by its Human Resource Management and Development Service (HRMDS) – Human Resource Welfare Division (HRWD).

Asst. Secretary Wenceslao emphasized the importance of equipping the attendees in handling grievances, complaints, mediation, and other administrative remedial measures in the most effective and efficient and ways.

“As members of the Grievance Committee and the Committee on Decorum and Investigation (CODI) on Gender-Based Sexual Harassment Cases and leaders in our respective offices, bureaus, and services, we must be committed to upholding the highest ethical standards and code of conduct as civil servants,” Asst. Secretary Wenceslao told the participants.

The senior DSWD official stressed that the committee members shall handle complaints and grievance matters with utmost confidentiality, impartiality, humaneness, respect, justice, and fairness. #