Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian expressed its gratitude to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for the issuance of their Department Circular No. 017 which provides for statutory immunity to social workers taking protective custody of children.

In his official Facebook, Secretary Gatchalian thanked DOJ Secretary Jesus Crispin C. Remulla for protecting all social workers from the government and registered, licensed, and accredited non-government agencies via the issuance of the DOJ policy.

With the policy, all social workers who are duty bound to take temporary custody of children living in especially difficult circumstances or in high risk can now perform their task without any anxiety.

The issuance of the circular resulted from a stakeholders’ meeting in February wherein it was reported that social workers expressed apprehension in doing their duty despite already existing laws and policies.

The policy is also in accordance with the priority task of the State to protect, promote and care for the rights and welfare of the children, as the future of the Filipino society. ###