The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) denies that some 1,200 contract of service workers (COS) have been dismissed as claimed by one of its employees during  an interview by DZRH.

Based on records of the Department, the reduction in the number of COS workers is not because of the dismissal but due to the following factors:

• For the period June 2018 to March 2019, some 876 COS workers were appointed to permanent, coterminous, casual, and contractual positions;
• Reduction of the 2019 approved budget of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), thus, the number of COS positions was also reduced;
• Winding down of the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS)  with majority of employees in the program are under COS status;
• Resignation of COS workers who transferred to other government agencies and the private sector;

In line with the expansion of its programs and services,  the Department has, in fact, hired more workers. As of April 28, 2019, the number of DSWD workforce nationwide is now close to 27,000 composed of permanent, casual, contractual, coterminous, COS workers or Memorandum of Agreement (MOA workers and Job Orders (JOs).  Of this number, COS or MOA workers and JOs number to 13,294.

The present DSWD management continues  to push for the regularization of qualified COS workers  through constant coordination with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the creation of regular positions. To date, a total of 8,083 proposed positions have been submitted to DBM. These include 4,779 positions for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program; 734 for centers and institutions; 2,422 for SLP; 21 for DSWD Field Office (FO)  II; 29 for  FO VII; 81 for FO X; and 17 for FO XI.

DSWD will hold a Workforce Planning Workshop this month to discuss and evaluate the creation of additional positions for its Offices and Bureaus in the Central Office and Field Offices. This will serve as a basis for COS workers to apply for the available positions, in accordance with the established selection process and qualification standards set by the Civil Service Commission. As a matter of policy, qualified COS workers shall be given priority for these positions  since they already have the necessary experience which they gained while working in the Department.

DSWD respects the dignity of its workers and it continues to put premium on their rights, security, and welfare as part of its good governance anchored on fair and just employment practice. -30-