DSWD signs deal with private partners to strengthen social work profession

When: October 20, 2023

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian on Friday (October 20) signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) with private organizations for the progressive strengthening of social workers and the social work profession in the country.

The first MOU highlights the partnership of the DSWD with the Association of Foundations (AF) and the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) to further improve the regulatory mandate of the DSWD through continuous policy formulation, standards development, and the provision of technical assistance to Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWDAs).

The partnership also ensures the support of AF and LCF to the learning interventions and activities of the DSWD Academy that are geared towards the advancement of the social work practice.

According to Secretary Gatchalian, the DSWD Academy will need the expertise of the two organizations to further capacitate small non-government organizations (NGOs) and SWDAs.

“We look forward in rolling out modules and certificate programs geared towards NGOs, people’s organizations, civil society organizations and foundations drawing from your wealth of expertise in making sure that they are accountable to their constituencies, they are transparent in their fund utilization, and that they are truly living up by the spirit of nation-building,” the DSWD chief said in his speech.

AF Chairperson Ma. Gisela Tiongson positively welcomed the partnership saying: “We are certain that our initiatives will be better aligned with the government, as we seek to complement and level up each other’s work.”

“We welcome this opportunity to join the DSWD and the AF into developing and implementing projects that are in support of social welfare and developing agenda of the government,” LCF Board of Trustee Mr. Austere Panadero said.

For the second MOU, Sec. Gatchalian signed a deal with the University Hotel (UH), a lodging and catering venue in the University of the Philippines – Diliman, to ensure the continuity of the conduct of capacity building activities and trainings while the DSWD Academy is undergoing renovation until the first semester of 2024.

The UH was represented by Hotel Operations Manager Melvin Gomez and Marketing Department Chief Ma. Terrisa Estidola.

Also present to witness the MOU signing were DSWD Standards and Capacity Building Group (SCBG) Undersecretary Denise Florence Bernos-Bragas, Asst. Secretary for SCBG Janet Armas, Asst. Secretary for Partnerships Building and Resource Mobilization Atty. Ana Maria Paz Rafael, Standards Bureau (SB) Director Atty. Megan Therese Manahan, Social Welfare Institutional Development Bureau (SWIDB) Director Atty. Justin Caesar Anthony Batocabe, AF Executive Director Mr. Norman Joseph Jiao, and LCF Board Treasurer Ms. Marie Angeles.