Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Undersecretary Emmeline Aglipay-Villar and Assistant Secretary Ellaine Fallarcuna of the agency’s International Affairs, Attached and Supervised Agencies (IASAs) joined the 7th ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Disaster Resilience Platform (ADRP) meeting last May 21.

During the hybrid forum, the agency executives presented the highlights and updates on the celebration of ASEAN Social Work Day last March 5, as well as the launch of the 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).

The policy document supports the implementation of the Ha Noi Declaration on Strengthening Social Work towards a Cohesive and Responsive ASEAN Community. It outlines a collective commitment to enhancing the role of social work across the region, with a focus on promoting social cohesion and effectively responding to the diverse needs of ASEAN members.