The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region-7 has continued providing assistance to its partners.
The agency has supported the quarterly meetings of the members of Area-Based Standards Network (ABSNET), an organization of Social Welfare and Development Agencies (SWADAs) that are registered, licensed and accredited by DSWD located within the same geographical area that assists the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWD) to monitor the implementation of Social Welfare and Development (SWD) programs for the disadvantaged and vulnerable sectors they serve.
For the second semester, the Standards Unit of DSWD-7 shared the rules and regulations about registration and licensing of social welfare and development agencies (SWDAs) and accreditation of social welfare and development programs and services as stipulated in the Administrative Order 16 series of 2012.
The SWDAs were also reminded of the rules and regulation pertaining standards especially in running a center. DSWD reiterated that all policies of the agency should be put in the manual of operations.
According to Ms. Sheila Jestre, Social Welfare Officer I, SWDAs would have to renew their license within six month before the registration and license to operate expire. DSWD has encouraged the agencies to avoid renew on the date of expiration.
Ms. Jestre said that SWDAs that are not yet registered must submit for accreditation six months after having registered and licensed by the DSWD.
Moreover, SWDAs must submit their annual accomplishment and audited financial reports and caseload inventory for those implementing residential care. They were also reminded that the Standards Bureau of Central office and the Standards Unit of Region-7 will conduct announced and unannounced visit in their respective areas.
Aside from the quarterly meetings, DSWD-7 also provided training on Disaster Risk Reduction Management (DRRM) to 23 participating SWDAs. Topics discussed by competent resource persons were DRRM Law and Family Preparedness for Disaster Emergency by Jenifer Abastillas; Philippine Disaster Risk Reduction and Management System by Engr. Ver Neil Balaba, Assistant Regional Director of Office of the Civil Defense (OCD)-7; Threats and Effects of Disasters like earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption and fire by Dennis Atto, training Officer of OCD; guidelines on the management and processing of donations by Josephine Belotindos, OIC Division Chief of Institutional Development Division, DSWD-7.
This provision of capability building activities was anchored to DSWD’s mandate to provide assistance to local government units, non-government organizations, other national government agencies, people’s organizations and other members of civil society in effectively implementing programs, projects and services that will alleviate poverty and empower disadvantaged individuals, families and communities for an improved quality of life. ###
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