Davao Region LGUs have functional social welfare office -DSWD

Davao City –Delivery of coordinated and quality basic social services is determined by the competence and readiness of the office mandated to provide such.

 The regulatory function of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) ensures that agencies and institutions catering social services and social protection implement them according to set standards.

 Following the recent assessment conducted by DSWD as to the functionality of local social welfare and development offices (LSWDOs) in three Davao provinces, all 36 LGUs passed.

 Regional Director of DSWD Priscilla N. Razon said three Provincial Social Welfare and Development Offices (PSWDOs), four City Social Welfare and Development Offices (CSWDO), and 29 Municipal Social Welfare and Development Offices (MSWDOs) were found functional based on MC 16 series of 2014 also known as Standards for the Functionality of LSWDOs.

 In support to DSWD Vision -To be the world’s standard in the delivery of coordinated social services and social protection for poverty reduction by 2030, MC 16 sets the indicators to measure the level of functionality of LSWDOs, Director Razon explained.

 The respective LSWDOs are: Davao del Norte’s Panabo City, IGaCoS, Tagum City, Asuncion, Carmen, Kapalong, New Corella, Sto. Tomas, Talaingod and Braulio E. Dujali; Davao Oriental’s Mati City, Baganga, Banaybanay, Boston, Caraga, Cateel, Gov. Generoso, Lupon, Manay, San Isidro and Tarragona; and Compostela, Laak, Mabini, Maco, Maragusan, Mawab, Monkayo, Montevista, Nabunturan, New Bataan and Pantukan from the province of Compostela Valley.

 According to Dahlia S. Padillo, DSWD Planning Unit Head, the assessment in Davao del Sur is ongoing and will run until end of the month.

 Padillo said MC 16 captures specific statuses of LSWDOs in terms of management and operations, implementation of programs and services, and basis and direction on the rational provision of technical assistance and resource augmentation.

 In this light, DSWD XI has provided Technical Assistance and Resource Augmentation (TARA) through activities such as conduct of Social Welfare and Development forum, consultation dialogue with LGUs, one-on-one session with LSWDOs, re-orientation on MC 16, and follow-up visit/monitoring LSWDO compliance to indicators on the assessment tool.

However, based on generated results, some LSWDOs still need to submit additional evaluation reports on program management and case management, Padillo added.

Further, a re-assessment of LSWDOs in Davao del Norte, Compostela Valley, and Davao Oriental will run in June to July this year. (DSWD/Julie Ace Brandon F. Ramos/ccd)