The Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office 7 Regional Director Shalaine Marie S. Lucero emphasized the importance of Pagpakabana in driving the significant office transformation into a more efficient agency, committed to swift and effective service delivery in observance of the Ease of Doing Business Month (EODB).

“In my 30 years with the Department, I have always lived by the principle of Pagpakabana—caring deeply for others. In 2023, this value guided us to transform our office, ensuring we provide fast, efficient, and transparent services. Through Pagpakabana, we have embraced a new era of good governance, focusing on accountability and the well-being of those we serve,” RD Lucero shared.

In July 2023, DSWD Field Office 7 received a score of 79.29% in the Anti-Red Tape Authority (ARTA) Report Card Survey (RCS), a relatively low rating indicating that the agency needs to further improve its public service delivery.

Following the integration of ARTA standards and protocols, including the establishment of a Queuing Management System, installation of clear signage, optimization of foot traffic patterns, effective implementation of the Public Assistance and Complaints Desk (PACD), and application of the 7S Good Housekeeping Methodology, DSWD Field Office 7 achieved a remarkable 95.59% rating in October, 2023.

This milestone earned the agency the ARTA RCS Gold Award, a recognition granted to government agencies for exemplary compliance with the Ease of Doing Business (EODB) Law, enabling them to provide quality public service.

On the other hand, during the Nationwide Frontline Service Inspection on May 15, 2025, the inspectors from Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) and ARTA found DSWD Field Office 7 to be highly compliant with ARTA standards in streamlining processes and enhancing public service delivery by reducing red tape, improving efficiency, and combating corruption. ###